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  Process and plant for electrodepositing copperUSPTO Application #: 20080035473Title: Process and plant for electrodepositing copper Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for electrochemically winning or refining copper by electrodepositing copper from an electrolyte solution containing the metal in ionogenic form, in which the electrolyte is passed through an electrolysis plant comprising at least one electrolytic cell, which in an electrolyte tank for receiving the electrolyte has at least two electrodes serving as anode and cathode, which are alternately arranged at a distance from each other, and to a corresponding plant. To increase the economic efficiency of such processes and plants, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to immerse the at least one cathode during operation of the electrolysis into the electrolyte over a length of at least 1.2 meters. (end of abstract) Agent: Morgan & Finnegan, L.L.P. - New York, NY, US Inventors: Nikola Anastasijevic, Jean-Paul Nepper, Martin Koeneke, Dirk Lohrberg, Tom Marttila, Henri Virtanen USPTO Applicaton #: 20080035473 - Class: 204242000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Chemistry: Electrical And Wave Energy, Apparatus, Electrolytic, Cells The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080035473. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a process for the electrochemical winning or refining of copper by electrodepositing copper from an electrolyte solution containing the metal in ionogenic form, in which the electrolyte is passed through an electrolysis plant comprising at least one electrolytic cell, which in an electrolyte tank for receiving the electrolyte has at least two electrodes serving as anode and cathode, which are alternately arranged at a distance from each other, and to a corresponding plant. [0002] For producing copper, a multitude of processes are known, in particular pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes. In pyrometallurgical processes, enriched chalcopyrite is molten in a suspension furnace or bath-type melting furnace by adding oxygen to obtain a copper matrix, in converters is then converted to crude copper in two blowing steps, and is purified further in a final electrolytic refining step. This electrolysis is also referred to as refining electrolysis. In hydrometallurgical processes, on the other hand, in particular low-copper oxidic ores with a copper content of about 0.5 to 1 wt-% are used as starting materials. The starting ore poor in copper, which due to its mineralogical composition cannot always be processed economically with other processes such as flotation, is leached e.g. with dilute sulfuric acid, and in an extraction plant the resulting solution rich in copper is treated with an organic extractant which selectively extracts copper ions from the solution. Subsequently, the copper-containing extractant is stripped with foul electrolyte with a copper content of about 30 to 40 g/l, which originates from the succeeding electrolysis plant, the copper from the extractant phase passing over into the electrolyte, which upon further purification for removing extractant residues and solids typically is recirculated to the electrolysis plant with a copper content of 40 to 50 g/l. Such electrolysis is also referred to as extraction electrolysis. [0003] During operation of the electrolyses, the copper ions are reduced at the cathodes and deposited as elementary copper. Conventional electrolysis plants for the electrometallurgical winning of copper, as they are described for instance in J. A. Wells and W. R. Sneigrove, The Design and Engineering of Copper Electrowinning Tankhouses, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Electrometallurgical Plant Practise, Pergamon Press, 1990, pp. 57 to 72, comprise up to 188 electrolytic cells, each of which has between 20 and 60 cathodes, chiefly made of stainless steel, as well as a corresponding number of anodes. At predetermined distances, depending on the size of the plant, the copper-coated cathodes are withdrawn from the electrolytic cell manually or by means of cranes and transferred to a stripping plant, in which the copper coatings are peeled (stripped) off the cathodes, before the cathode starting sheets are returned to the electrolytic cells after a corresponding aftertreatment. The copper peeled off is finally processed in melting furnaces. [0004] For an efficient aftertreatment of the copper-loaded cathodes, in particular for peeling off the deposited copper in the stripping machine, a rather uniform deposition of the copper on the cathodes, based on the surface area of the cathodes, is desirable. This is only ensured with a uniform streamline distribution along the length of the cathodes. As is described for instance in A. Schmidt, Angewandte Elektrochemie, Verlag Chemie 1976, pp. 49 to 51, the uniformity of the streamline distribution with a given conductivity of the electrolyte is, however, increasing with decreasing width and in particular length of the electrode surface immersed into the electrolyte. In addition, the streamline distribution depends on the conductivity of the electrode material and on the current density applied during electrolysis. Due to these relations, both the refining electrolysis and the extraction electrolysis typically employ electrodes with a surface area maximally immersed into the electrolyte of about 1.times.1 meter. The melting furnaces for the further processing of copper are also adjusted to this size. [0005] Due to the high investment and operating costs of the electrolysis plants and cathode processing plants comprising crane and stripping machines, which are combined in the so-called tankhouse, attempts have been made for quite some time at increasing the economic efficiency of both the refining electrolysis and the extraction electrolysis. This largely depends on the efficiency of the electrolysis as well as on the number of the cathode movements and therefore on the amount of copper deposited per cathode. [0006] To increase the efficiency of the electrolysis, it is desirable to increase the current density during the electrolysis, in order to achieve a higher deposition of copper on the cathodes per unit time. However, the current density on the cathode side is limited by the quality of the copper deposited, as due to the increased overvoltage on the cathodes more impurities are deposited with increasing current density. On the anode side, the lead alloy used as electrode material for the extraction electrolysis becomes more unstable, and the copper anode used for the refining electrolysis becomes passivated with increasing current density. As a result of these two effects, present-day electrolyses operate with a maximum current density of about 370 A/m.sup.2 electrode surface. In the extraction electrolysis, a higher current density can only be achieved by using expensive anode materials with a lower quality of the electrodeposited copper. [0007] Therefore, a further reduction of the production costs with a consistent quality of the electrodeposited copper can only be achieved by reducing the specific investment and operating costs of the cathode processing plants comprising the crane and stripping machines, i.e. by decreasing the necessary number of cathode movements based on the amount of copper electrodeposited per cathode. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0008] It is the object of the present invention to increase the copper loading per cathode based on the number of cathode movements with a consistent quality of the electrodeposited copper. [0009] In accordance with the invention, this object is solved by a process and a plant with the features of claims 1 and 23, respectively. Preferred embodiments of the invention are evident from the dependent claims. [0010] Surprisingly, it could be found in accordance with the present invention that--contrary to the prejudice existing among experts that electrodes with an electrolyte immersion surface of more than 1.times.1 m, and in particular electrodes with an electrolyte immersion depth of more than 1 m, are not suitable for winning copper due to the non-uniform streamline distribution necessarily obtained at the electrodes--an electrolyte immersion depth of the electrodes of more than 1.2 m leads to a sufficiently uniform deposition of copper on the cathodes in processes for electrodepositing copper from an electrolyte solution containing the metal in ionogenic form also with the cathode materials commonly employed in the refining and extraction electrolyses and with the usually adjusted current densities. Here as well, an efficient processing of the loaded cathodes, in particular a stripping of the copper deposited, is possible with the known processing techniques. In the process of the invention, more copper is produced per cathode movement than in known processes with a consistent quality of the electrodeposited copper due to the greater electrolyte immersion depth, so that the costs per ton of extracted copper can be decreased drastically. [0011] During operation of the electrolysis, the immersion depth of the electrodes into the electrolyte preferably is an integral multiple of the commonly used immersion depth of about 1 m and particularly preferably about 2 m with a cathode width of about 1 m each. The advantage is that the melting furnaces, which because of the active cathode surface, i.e. the cathode surface immersed into the electrolyte, normally were designed for a size of 1.times.1 m in the known processes, can be used unchanged, in that the stripped copper sheets to be obtained with the process in accordance with the invention are reduced to the corresponding size of 1.times.1 m subsequent to the stripping operation and before being supplied to the melting furnace. With an active electrode length of 2 m, this can easily be achieved in that for instance the copper sheets are bent in the middle and are folded at the bending surface. It is likewise possible to obtain two separate cathode sheets each of 1.times.1 m during the stripping operation, e.g. by an insulated horizontally circumferential region provided at about the level of half the cathode height, so that another folding or reduction in size is made superfluous. Finally, a mechanical separation is also possible. [0012] In accordance with a development of the invention it is proposed that the at least one electrolytic cell has more than 60 cathodes, particularly preferably more than 100 cathodes, and quite particularly preferably 114 cathodes. As a result, the efficiency of the process of the invention is further increased, as the size of the electrolytic cells caused by this measure provides for an inexpensive transport while at the same time reducing the number of cells per production capacity. This leads to a smaller tankhouse, shorter cathode delivery paths and less stray currents. In principle, the cathodes can be made of all materials known to the skilled person for this purpose, stainless steel cathodes being preferred. [0013] It turned out to be advantageous to perform the electrolysis with a current density as used in the known processes, preferably with a current density of more than 200 A/m.sup.2, and particularly preferably with a current density between 250 and 370 A/m.sup.2. In this way, the deposition of major amounts of impurities on the cathodes is avoided and copper is produced with the required quality. Due to the greater active electrode length and surface area, higher specific current intensities, i.e. higher current intensities per electrode, are obtained in the process of the invention as compared to the processes of the prior art. Whereas in the last-mentioned processes with cathodes and anodes of an active electrode surface of 1.times.1 m each, the specific current intensity is 740 A per electrode with a current density of 370 A/m.sup.2, the specific current intensity is doubled in accordance with the invention to 1,480 A per electrode when using electrodes with an active surface of 1.times.2 m. [0014] In the process of the invention, the electrodes can in principle be positioned in the electrolytic cells, be fixed and supplied with current in any way known to those skilled in the art. However, electrodes with a horizontal hanger bar known per se, which has a first end and a second end and preferably is made of the same material as the cathode surface, in particular steel, turned out to be advantageous. For power supply, one end of the hanger bar of the cathodes each rests on a first contact bar connected to a power source, whereas one end each of the hanger bar of the anodes each is in contact with a second contact bar connected to the power source. Preferably, the two contact bars are arranged on one contact bar each, which are provided at the edge of the electrolyte tank. The respectively second ends of the hanger bars of the electrodes can rest on a supporting surface of insulating material, which for instance is likewise arranged on the contact bars. [0015] In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes have the first end of their hanger bar each resting on one of the two contact bars via a two-line contact. This is advantageous in particular because due to the larger specific current densities in the process of the invention higher currents must be transmitted from the contact bars to the electrodes, which can be realized more effectively with two-line contacts due to the greater contact surface. For this purpose, a contact bar with an at least substantially trapezoidal indentation is used particularly preferably, onto which the first end of the hanger bar is applied with a contact surface having an at least substantially rectangular cross-section. The two-line contact can of course also be effected in any other way known to the skilled person for this purpose. [0016] To ensure a transmission of current rather free of losses between the contact bars and the cathodes, which are for instance made of stainless steel, also with high specific current intensities, the process of the invention preferably employs cathodes whose e.g. steel-sheathed hanger bar has a copper core. Due to the high electric conductivity of copper, the current thus transmitted from the contact bar to the hanger bar is transmitted to the active electrode surface with only minimal losses, whereas the steel sheath surface of the hanger bar provides the hanger bar in particular with a high mechanical strength and high corrosion resistance. Based on its cross-section, the copper core preferably has the same geometry as the hanger bar. In this case, a hanger bar made of steel, which for instance is substantially square in cross-section, likewise includes a substantially square copper core. [0017] In accordance with a development of the invention it is proposed to have the respectively second end of the hanger bar of the cathodes rest on an equalizer bar preferably arranged on one of the two contact bars, irrespective of whether the contact of the other hanger bar ends with the contact bars is effected via a one-line or two-line contact or any other contact whatsoever. The advantage of this embodiment consists in that the cathodes in this way have two electric contacts, namely on the one hand with a contact bar and on the other hand with an equalizer bar, whereby the distribution of current between the electrodes is rendered more uniform. This is expedient in particular with high specific current intensities, in order to minimize the transfer resistances and electric losses. [0018] For the same reasons, it is preferred in the process of the invention to also have the second end of the hanger bar of the anodes rest on an anode equalizer bar separate from the cathode equalizer bar. [0019] In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the contact bars and/or possibly the equalizer bar or, particularly preferably, the intermediate contact bars, on which the contact bars and possibly the equalizer bars are arranged, are cooled during the electrolysis, in order to avoid a power loss, which results from the higher specific current intensity and the related higher current load, and a heating of the corresponding conductor bars. For this purpose, a water cooling of the conductor bars turned out to be particularly expedient, which is realized for instance by passing cooling water through a cooling water channel provided in the bus bars. Good results are achieved in particular with cooling water channels having a diameter of about 15 to 20 mm. Extruded bus bars with embedded cooling channel are preferably used for this purpose, although good results are also achieved with bus bars with milled slots, which are subsequently covered and welded, or with soldered copper tubes. For supplying water to the corresponding bus bars, tubes of PVC or hoses of vinyl material turned out to be particularly useful. [0020] To achieve an efficient heat exchange between the bus bars and the cooling water, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to pass the cooling water through the cooling water channels with a velocity sufficient to maintain a turbulent water flow, where a velocity of about 1.5 m/s should, however, not be exceeded. [0021] In accordance with the invention, the cooling water supply can also be effected by two coolant circuits divided into a primary circuit, which at least partly extends through the intermediate bus bars to be cooled, and a secondary circuit, which preferably extends completely outside the bus bars to be cooled. The connection of the two circuits can be effected in any way known to the skilled person. In particular, shell-and-tube heat exchangers as well as plate-type heat exchangers turned out to be useful. Particularly preferably, the primary circuit exclusively extends through the bus bars to be cooled and is operated with high-purity cooling water, for instance water purified by a reverse osmosis plant, whereas the secondary circuit is fed with crude water and is recooled for instance by an atmospheric cooling tower. [0022] To ensure that the primary circuit is always filled with cooling water, the same preferably includes a water expansion tank. Continue reading... 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