METAL-ELECTROWINNING OR -ELECTROREFINING PROCESS COMPRISING THE APPLICATION OF AN ELECTRICAL POWER SIGNAL FORMED OF AN ALTERNATING CURRENT SUPERIMPOSED ON A DIRECT CURRENT

摘要

The invention relates to a process of electrowinning or electrorefining of metals, in particular noble metals, such as copper, that is carried out in an aqueous and strongly acidic medium and comprises the application of an electrical feed signal formed of an alternating current superimposed on a direct current, where the alternating current (AC) is in a range between 400 and 600 A/m² and is superimposed on a direct current (DC) in the range between 240 and 600 A/m², and where the frequency (f) is greater than or equal to 5,000 Hz and less than or equal to 10,000 Hz. The electrowinning process operates in a temperature range between 15 and 52°C, in a Cu²⁺ concentration range of between 33 and 43 gpl, having a dosage of flocculation additives and a grain refiner of less than 200g/ton of copper produced (Cu°), and having a concentration of CoSo4 less than 170 ppm of Cu²⁺ in the electrolyte bath. The electrorefining process operates in a temperature range between 40 and 60°C, in a range of concentration of Cu²⁺ between 40 and 56 gpl, and having a dosage of flocculation additives with a grain refiner of less than 100g/ton of Cu°.