| Abstract Scope |
During electrorefining, copper or lead are purified from impure anodes by dissolving in the electrolyte and plating on the cathodes while all insoluble components are precipitated to the bottom of electrolytic cells in the Tank house (or Cell House). These settled insoluble components are called anode slimes that contain copper, tellurium, selenium, bismuth, silver, gold, and traces of platinum group metals, such as platinum and palladium. Traditionally these valuable metals are recovered in partial pyro- and partial hydro- metallurgical processes. In this paper, it summarizes a 100% hydrometallurgical process (Wang’s process) that was innovatively developed for each of the critical metal’s recovery. This novel hydrometallurgical process would not only eliminate all by-products from current Precious Metals Plants, but also increase significant revenues in the copper or lead refinery operations. |