The use of copper anodes with non standard content of impurities for the treatment of waste, sulphuracid solutions that came as a result of the industrial process of electrolytic copper refining wasinvestigated. Those solutions contain the high content of copper, nickel and arsine, and because of that,the copper anodes with high content of Ni, Pb, Sn and Sb were prepared. Examination the effect ofhigh impurities content as well as the influence of the solution temperature on the anodes behaviourduring the electrolytic process under the conditions that are the same as the industrial was the aim ofthis work. Obtained results clearly indicate that tested anodes could be used for the refined during theelectrorefining process. Dissolution of copper anodes was not stoppage after the first appearance of thepassivation region for A1 and A2 anodes while appearance of passivation for A3 anode, for testduration of 72 h, was not registered. The start time of the first passivation appearance is shorter in thecase of the anode with high content of all impurities, anode A1. The first passivation occurrence wasdetected on higher temperature after about 29 h from the test starts. The change of chemicalcomposition of electrolyte was monitored during electrolysis. Concentration of nickel in the workingelectrolyte at the end of process is increased and it corresponds to the Ni content in anodes. The copperand arsenic concentrations are decreased during the process. Arsenic passes into the anode slime, whilethe copper is deposited on the cathode and also passed in the slime. After the process is finished,obtained solution could be used for the nickel recover using the electrochemically or chemicallymethods.
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