TITLE:
Recovering Scrap Anode Copper Using Reactive Electrodialysis
AUTHORS:
Gerardo Cifuentes, José Hernández, Nicolás Guajardo
KEYWORDS:
Electro-Refining, Copper Scrap, Reactive Electro-Dialysis
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Analytical Chemistry,
Vol.5 No.15,
November
13,
2014
ABSTRACT: Despite functioning without major operational problems—copper electro-refining does not allow complete use of copper anodes, peaking at 85% of the copper anode in weight. Consequently, the remaining 15% of scrap copper must be recirculated into the copper smelting. The use of reactive electrodyalysis is a system capable of continuously electro-refining scrap, by using a stainless steel basket and a cationic exchanging membrane in order to increase production of copper cathodes at the same percentage; it currently today returns to the copper smelter. In terms of specific energy consumption, this process would use between 3 and 4 times the value of normal electro-refining.