Patent ID: 7368049

Claim:
A method of electrowinning copper comprising: providing an electrochemical cell comprising at least one flow-through anode and at least one cathode, wherein said cathode has an active surface area; providing a flow of electrolyte through said electrochemical cell, said electrolyte comprising copper and solubilized ferrous iron; oxidizing at least a portion of said solubilized ferrous iron in said electrolyte at the at least one flow-through anode from ferrous iron to ferric iron, wherein the at least one flow-through anode comprise stainless steel-clad copper rods; removing at least a portion of said copper from said electrolyte at the at least one cathode; and operating said electrochemical cell at a cell voltage and at a current density, wherein said cell voltage is less than about 1.5 Volts and wherein said current density is greater than about 26 amperes per square foot of active cathode.