Energy efficient self-regulating process for winning copper from aqueous solutions

摘要

The present invention is predicated upon the discovery that in the electrowinning of copper from solutions thereof, a hydrogen fed porous catalytic anode can be caused to operate under such conditions of constant current flow whereby a dynamic equilibrium will be imposed upon the hydrogen fed anode so that the anode will behave as a normal copper anode in a refining mode. This is particularly true when such a hydrogen fed anode is deactivated by copper buildup on the surface of the electrode.