Bismuth controlled in copper tankhouse electrodes

摘要

Skid-mounted plants for the removal and recovery of bismuth from copper-tankhouse electrolytes are being marketed by MRT Africa, an IBC-Bateman company. Its molecular-recognition technology (MRT) can effectively control the bismuth contamination of electrolytes, which deleteriously affects copper-cathode production and quality. Bismuth levels in the electrolyte can be reduced to below 200ppm or even 100ppm, which means that copper cathodes can be produced with a typical specification of less than 0,3ppm of bismuth. The bismuth may be sold as a high-value byproduct, adding significantly to the overall financial benefit of the process.