Ministry of Higher Education

and Scientific Research

University of Technology
Production Engineering &
Metallurgy Department

Electrowinning process

By
Ass. Lecturer: Andy M. Abdulaziz
❑ Electrowinning (or electroextraction): is a process of whereby metals, such as gold, silver and
copper, are recovered from a solution by means of electrolytic chemical reaction due to their
relative value. Electrowinning is an electrolytic technology used to recover metals from
electroplating rinse waters. This takes place when an electric current is passed through the solution.
❑ Electrowinning is a widely used technology in modern metal recovery, mining, refining, and
wastewater treatment applications. The electrowinning process is one of the oldest electrolytic
processes known and was first introduced in 1807 by English chemist Humphry Davy.
❑ Electrowinning is a process used to recover metals from concentrated solutions by applying a
voltage across electrodes immersed in a concentrated solution. Electrowinning is commonly used to
recover base metals such as copper, zinc, nickel, and cobalt. This occurs when an electric current
passes from a cathode that's negatively charged to a positively charged anode through a metal-
containing solution.
 The components of electrowinning unit:
An electrowinning unit has three main components:
➢ Electrolytic cell converts electrical energy into chemical energy. Here, the redox reaction is
spontaneous and is responsible for the production of electrical energy. The redox reaction is not
spontaneous and electrical energy has to be supplied to initiate the reaction. The battery pumps
electrons away from the anode (making it positive) and into the cathode (making it negative).
Electrolytic cells are electrochemical cells that can be used for the electrolysis of certain
compounds. For example, water can be subjected to electrolysis (with the help of an electrolytic
cell) to form gaseous oxygen and gaseous hydrogen. Electrolytic cells are used for all kinds of
things: electroplating metals, recharging a battery, and separating pure metals from metallic
compounds. When electrolytic cells are used to separate chemical compounds, the process is
known as electrolysis (redox reaction).
➢ Rectifier: A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC),
which periodically reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which flows in only one
direction. Diodes work like one-way valves within the rectifier to maintain this flow of
current.
➢ Pump: the pump fills the tank with the electrolytic solution

There are two types of electrodes:

1. Active electrodes: the active electrode is the electrode that actively
participates in the electrochemical cell's chemical reaction
2. Inert electrode: is the electrode that does not actively participate in the
electrochemical cell's chemical reaction.
 Electrowinning of copper
❑ Electrowinning is the plating of metallic copper from the CuSO4–H2SO4–H2O electrolyte
produced by solvent extraction. It consists of passing direct current between inert but conductive
anodes (usually Pb–Sn–Ca alloy) and stainless steel (sometimes copper) cathodes.

❑ In copper electrolysis, when a current is applied, positively-charged copper ions (called cations)
leave the anode (positive electrode) and move toward the cathode (negative electrode).

❑ In conventional copper electrowinning, 70% of the cell voltage is due to the anode potential which
involves the oxidation of water at the anode. The overall cell potential is approximately 2.0V.

❑ Electrolysis involves using electricity to break down electrolytes to form elements. The products
of electrolysis can be predicted for a given electrolyte. Copper can be purified using electrolysis.
Electrowinning, also called electroextraction,
is the electrodeposition of metals from their
ores that have been put in solution via a
process commonly referred to as leaching.

•Reduction occurs at the cathode.

•Copper ions migrate to the cathode.
•Copper ions are reduced at the cathode.
•Cu2+(aq) + 2e- → Cu(s)
•Solid copper is deposited at the cathode.

anode reaction: H2O(l) → 2H+(aq) + ½O2(g) + 2e-

cathode reaction: Cu2+(aq) + 2e- → Cu(s)
overall reaction: Cu2+(aq) + H2O(l) → Cu(s) + 2H+(aq) + ½O2(g)
or using only integers (whole numbers): 2Cu2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) → 2Cu(s) + 4H+(aq) + O2(g)
❑ Copper sulfate CuSO4 solution is used in electrowinning of copper. Electrolysis of copper sulfate
solution with copper electrodes and acidified water with inert electrodes. Copper is purified by
electrolysis close electrolysis. The decomposition (breakdown) of a compound using an electric
current. Electricity is passed through solutions containing copper compounds, such as copper
sulfate.
❑ In the electrolysis of copper sulfate solution using inert electrodes, the copper ions is reduced at the
cathode and oxygen is produced at the anode by the oxidation of water. This reaction produces
copper metal and oxygen. During electrolysis, the anode loses mass as copper dissolves, and the
cathode gains mass as copper is deposited.
❑ The resistance of electrolyte solution and cell is reduced with the rise in temperature leading to an
increased rate of electrodeposition of copper. In addition, the temperature of the electrolyte
positively affects the quality of cathode copper.
❑ The copper ions in the solution gain electrons and form a layer of copper on the cathode. This
process transfers copper from the anode to the cathode, it is used to purify copper. The impure
copper is used to make the anode, during the process pure copper is deposited onto the cathode.
❑ Copper is commonly used as both the anode and cathode material during electrolysis because it
has some important properties that make it suitable for the process.

Why pure copper is used as cathode?

Because we want the pure copper to be collected
on the cathode electrode where we can retrieve it easily
and the impurities to be left behind in the sludge. The
copper is attracted to the anode to equalize the electrical
charges. The impurities are not attracted to the cathode