Electrodeposition of copper by IMPC method

Abstract

In order to develop an energy-saving electrodeposition process of copper, the electrodeposition of copper in copper sulfate solution by the ion-exchange membrane primary cell (IMPC) method has been studied. The experiments were carried out in an ion-exchange membrane primary cell with dimensions of 200 mm in length, 52 mm in width and 90 mm in height. The influences of temperature (294–323 K), interval between the anode and cathode (1.5–3.5 cm), mass concentrations of Cu²⁺ (6–40 g/L), H₂SO₄ (0–120 g/L) and Fe³⁺ (3–9 g/L) in catholyte and solution flow rate (0–8 cm/s) on current density and current efficiency were investigated experimentally. The current density increases with the increase of temperature and concentrations of Cu²⁺ and H₂SO₄ in catholyte. Cathode current efficiency decreases with the increase of concentration of Fe³⁺ in catholyte and anode current efficiency decreases with the increase of temperature. The high-quality cathodic copper can be obtained and the current density of membrane can be higher than 150 A/m² and the current density of cathode can be higher than 300 A/m². The experiment results show that IMPC method is effective for electrodeposition of copper.

Keywords

ion-exchange membrane / primary cell / copper / electrodeposition

References

[1] AlanToyer. Advance and developmental trend of copper’s hydrometallurgy [J]. Hydrometallurgy, 1997, 62(1): 52-56(in Chinese)

[2] WU Xi. Some development of leaching-solvent extraction-electrowinning process of copper[J]. Hydrometallurgy (in Chinese), 1999, (2):45–47.

[3] WANG Chen-yan, ZHAN Hui-fang, HU Hu-cheng, et al. Economical assessment of leaching-solvent extraction-electrowinning process for low-grade copper deposit in China[J]. Non-ferrous Metals (Extractive Metallurgy Part) (in Chinese), 1997, (4): 16–18.

[4] FANG Jin-wei, LI Wei-zhong. Development and perspective of leaching-solvent extraction-electrowinning process of copper[J]. Non-ferrous Metals Metallurgy (in Chinese), 1999, (4): 15–18.

[5] YAN Zhi-hua. Primary cell electrolysis and hydrometallurgy of copper[A]. Proceedings of the First Conference on Application of Membrane Separation Technology in Metallurgy (in Chinese) [C]. Changsha, 1999. 222–224.

[6] LiQing-gang, ZhuKang-gen, ZhangQi-xiu, et al.. Reduction of ferric iron in the titanium sulfate solution by the ion-exchange membrane primary cell method [J]. J of Central South University of Technology, 1999, 6(2): 90-96

[7] BishiwashA K, DavenbertW GExtraction metallurgy of copper, 1980, Beijing, Metallurgical Industry Press(in Chinese)