Evaluation of the effect of Copper Electrowinning Parameters on Current Efficiency and Energy Consumption Using Surface Response Methodology

摘要

The effect of various parameters on the current efficiency and energy consumption during copper electrowinning were studied under relevant conditions to the industrial operations using statistical analysis with the aim of developing statistical models that describe the variation of current efficiency and energy consumption during copper electrowinning. The current efficiency was found to be affected by the ferric concentration, the copper concentration, the current density and the interaction between these parameters. The energy consumption was proved to be a function of the ferric concentration, the copper concentration and the interaction existing between them. These models were proved to predict laboratory test results as well as the output of industrial operations with high accuracy.