Copper Cathode Contamination by Nickel in Copper Electrorefining
Nickel behavior has a significant role in the electrorefining of copper, and although it has been extensively studied from the anode and electrolyte point of view over the past decades, studies on nickel contamination at the cathode are limited. In the current paper, three possible contamination mec...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Metals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/11/11/1758 |
| _version_ | 1797509366552723456 |
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| author | Mika Sahlman Jari Aromaa Mari Lundström |
| author_facet | Mika Sahlman Jari Aromaa Mari Lundström |
| author_sort | Mika Sahlman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nickel behavior has a significant role in the electrorefining of copper, and although it has been extensively studied from the anode and electrolyte point of view over the past decades, studies on nickel contamination at the cathode are limited. In the current paper, three possible contamination mechanisms—particle entrapment, electrolyte inclusions and co-electrodeposition—were investigated. Copper electrorefining (Cu-ER) was conducted at the laboratory scale, and the cathodes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Particle entrapment was studied by adding NiO and Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> to the system to simulate nickel anode slime, and the experiments were replicated with industrial anode slime material. The possibility of electrolyte entrapment due to nodulation was explored through the addition of graphite to produce nodules on the cathode. Co-electrodeposition was analyzed by experiments that utilized a Hull cell. The results indicate that particle entrapment can occur at the cathode and is a major source of the nickel contamination in Cu-ER, whereas nickel compounds were not shown to promote nodulation. Inclusions of bulk electrolytes within the surface matrix were observed, proving that electrolyte entrapment is possible. As co-electrodeposition of Ni in Cu-ER is thermodynamically unlikely, these experimental results also verify that it does not occur to any significant extent. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:16:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c408c559d6248fab438d36490e38007 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4701 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:16:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c408c559d6248fab438d36490e380072023-11-23T00:23:09ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012021-11-011111175810.3390/met11111758Copper Cathode Contamination by Nickel in Copper ElectrorefiningMika Sahlman0Jari Aromaa1Mari Lundström2Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16200, FI 00076 Aalto, FinlandDepartment of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16200, FI 00076 Aalto, FinlandDepartment of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16200, FI 00076 Aalto, FinlandNickel behavior has a significant role in the electrorefining of copper, and although it has been extensively studied from the anode and electrolyte point of view over the past decades, studies on nickel contamination at the cathode are limited. In the current paper, three possible contamination mechanisms—particle entrapment, electrolyte inclusions and co-electrodeposition—were investigated. Copper electrorefining (Cu-ER) was conducted at the laboratory scale, and the cathodes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Particle entrapment was studied by adding NiO and Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> to the system to simulate nickel anode slime, and the experiments were replicated with industrial anode slime material. The possibility of electrolyte entrapment due to nodulation was explored through the addition of graphite to produce nodules on the cathode. Co-electrodeposition was analyzed by experiments that utilized a Hull cell. The results indicate that particle entrapment can occur at the cathode and is a major source of the nickel contamination in Cu-ER, whereas nickel compounds were not shown to promote nodulation. Inclusions of bulk electrolytes within the surface matrix were observed, proving that electrolyte entrapment is possible. As co-electrodeposition of Ni in Cu-ER is thermodynamically unlikely, these experimental results also verify that it does not occur to any significant extent.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/11/11/1758electrorefiningcoppernickelcathode contaminationparticle entrapmentelectrolyte inclusion |
| spellingShingle | Mika Sahlman Jari Aromaa Mari Lundström Copper Cathode Contamination by Nickel in Copper Electrorefining Metals electrorefining copper nickel cathode contamination particle entrapment electrolyte inclusion |
| title | Copper Cathode Contamination by Nickel in Copper Electrorefining |
| title_full | Copper Cathode Contamination by Nickel in Copper Electrorefining |
| title_fullStr | Copper Cathode Contamination by Nickel in Copper Electrorefining |
| title_full_unstemmed | Copper Cathode Contamination by Nickel in Copper Electrorefining |
| title_short | Copper Cathode Contamination by Nickel in Copper Electrorefining |
| title_sort | copper cathode contamination by nickel in copper electrorefining |
| topic | electrorefining copper nickel cathode contamination particle entrapment electrolyte inclusion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/11/11/1758 |
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