Copper Electrowinning from Gold Plant Cyanide-Containing Solution

The electrowinning method for treating high copper cyanide solution was investigated by thermodynamics analysis and experiment. The influences of copper concentration, solution temperature, electrolysis time, current density and flow rate on copper recovery and current efficiency was studied in detail and the suitable operation parameters were chosen. Copper electrowinning from the industrial barren solution with copper concentration of 12.40g/L was performed under the condition of current density of 75 mA/cm2, flow rate of 30mL/min and 50°C for 8 hours. An alloy with copper concentration of 99.87% was obtained at the cathode with total energy consumption 2938KWh/t. The used electrolysis solution added with some fresh cyanide sodium solution can be recycled to leaching process.