Electrometallurgy

Electrolysis is a separation technique used in many industrial processes. One important

process is Electrometallurgy. This is described as the procedure for purifying or reducing
metals from metallic compounds to achieve the element's pure form using electrolysis. Copper is
the primary metal that is purified in this way.
For purifying Copper, the electrolysis of copper (II) sulphate solution using impure
copper at the anode and pure copper at the cathode, is carried out. The anode is active in this
electrolysis reaction. The ions present in this electrode are: H+, OH-, Cu2+ and SO42-. In processes
with an active anode, the anode itself ionizes and in this case would discharge and produce Cu2+
ions. Due to the positive copper ions being produced by the anode, it is attracted to the cathode
and forms copper solid. As this reaction continues, the copper at the anode is being diminished,
therefore the size of the anode also decreases. As mentioned before the anode’s material was
impure copper. These impurities are attached to the copper, but now since the same said copper is
being ionized and attracted to the cathode, there is nothing for the impurities to cling on. This
results in the dropping of “anode sludge”, which also aids in decreasing the size of the anode.
Eventually, all the impurities, for example: bismuth, tellurium and lead, fall to the base of the
beaker. To mention again, the anode is active, therefore it ionizes itself and forms Cu2+ ions
which are attracted to the cathode. In time, the cathode would increase in size as more and more
copper solid is being produced. This all results in the purification of copper.

At the anode: Cu(s)  Cu2+(aq) + 2e-

At the cathode: Cu2+(aq) + 2e-  Cu(s)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zyg73k7/revision/4

https://superfund.arizona.edu/sites/superfund.cals.arizona.edu/files/
copper_electrolysis_hands_on_final.pdf