Removal of Antimony and Bismuth from Copper Electrorefining Electrolyte: Part I-A Review

Antimony and bismuth are two of the most problematic impurities in copper electrorefining. As a result, much research has been done investigating the ways to remove them. Processes that are currently being used industrially include anode additions, liberators, ion exchange (IX), and solvent extraction (SX). Of these, liberators and anode additions are the most common while SX is the least, mostly being used for arsenic removal. Other methods have been evaluated, but they are not in commercial use. These include the use of various electrolyte additives, as well as adsorbents such as bentonite clay and heavy metal sulfates.