Introduction to Copper Electrolytic Purification:
Crude copper (99% copper content) is pre-formed into thick plates as the anode, and pure copper is formed into thin sheets as the cathode. A mixture of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and copper sulfate (CuSO₄) serves as the electrolyte. When electricity is applied, the copper dissolves from the anode into copper ions (Cu) and migrates toward the cathode. Upon reaching the cathode, it gains electrons, resulting in pure copper (also known as electrolytic copper) being deposited at the cathode.
Impurities in the crude copper, such as iron and zinc, which are more reactive than copper, dissolve along with the copper into ions (Zn and Fe). Since these ions are less reactive than copper ions, their deposition at the anode can be prevented by properly adjusting the potential difference during electrolysis. Impurities less reactive than copper, such as gold and silver, are deposited at the bottom of the electrolytic cell.
The copper plates produced in this manner are called "electrolytic copper" and are of extremely high quality, suitable for use in electrical products.
The sediment at the bottom of the electrolytic cell is called "anode mud." Rich in gold and silver, it is extremely valuable and has high economic value when removed and processed.
Electrolytic copper can be further processed into extremely fine electrolytic copper powder.
Electrolytic copper powder is a light rose-red, dendritic powder that oxidizes easily in humid air and is soluble in hot sulfuric acid or nitric acid.
Applications of electrolytic copper powder:
It is widely used in diamond tools, electro-carbon products, friction materials, conductive inks, and other powder metallurgy products.
Blister copper is copper that is cast after being smelted in a copper smelting converter. It contains approximately 98.5% copper. Its rough, porous surface gives it its name, also known as "blister copper."
This blister copper is further refined and cast into anode copper plates, which are then used in electrolytic cells to produce electrolytic copper. The gold and silver contained in the blister copper precipitate beneath the anode, forming "anode mud," which is then used to extract the gold and silver. This gold and silver coexist with the copper, and copper ores generally contain gold and silver.
The company has a cluster of leading copper processing production lines in China, including:
German imported precision copper tube production line (annual output of 30,000 tons)
Japanese technology copper foil rolling line (thinnest up to 6μm)
Fully automatic copper bar continuous extrusion line
Intelligent copper sheet and strip finishing mill unit
Digitalized control and management of the whole production process is realized through MES system, and the dimensional accuracy of the products can reach ±0.01mm.
