Laboratory and Pilot Scale Tests of a Ne

Copper electrorefining and electrowinning industrial processes are primarily conducted as current-controlled processes; however, the electrode potential is the actual driving force in these electrochemical methods. This study investigates copper electrodeposition from complex, concentrated industrial electrolytes, addressing the limited existing literature on this subject, which mostly focuses on diluted electrolytes where diffusion of copper ions is the sole mass transfer mode. The current paper presents and discusses fundamental aspects of a novel potential-controlled electrolysis method applicable to industrial copper electrowinning and electroforming, detailing pilot scale tests. Results from these initial tests are reported for the first time, assessing both potential industrial applications and the significance of understanding electrochemical processes in concentrated electrolytes from a fundamental research perspective. This publication is the first within a series that elaborates on pilot scale investigations of potential-controlled copper electrolysis, contributing to the knowledge base necessary for improving efficiency and effectiveness in copper recovery processes.