Patent ID: 6835297
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: C25C,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for electrolytically refining copper, which makes use of crude copper as an anode, the method being characterized in that the temperature of the electrolyte in an electrolytic cell is maintained at a level of not less than 55Â° C.;that the electrolyte is continuously introduced into the electrolytic cell from the top of the cell, continuously discharged from the bottom of the cell along with slime, the slime is removed from the electrolyte discharged from the electrolytic cell and the electrolyte free of any slime is recirculated in the cell; and that the electrolyzation is carried out under conditions, which satisfy the following inequalities: X>350; 600&gE;Y&gE;80; and Y&gE;250Ã—{(Xâˆ’350)/350}1/2 wherein the current density is defined to be X A/m2 and the average velocity of the electrolyte passing through a space between electrodes is defined as Y m/h, whereby the electrolyte is passed through the space between the electrodes at an average velocity of the electrolyte sufficient for allowing the electrolyte to flow on a whole surface of a cathode downward or in the direction opposite to that of an upward stream of the electrolyte generated on a cathode surface when the electrolysis is initiated while the electrolyte is in the stationary state.