Is the production process of electrolytic copper the same as electrolytic aluminum?
No, let's look at the electrolytic copper production process and electrolytic aluminum production process first. Electrolytic copper process: In many cases, hydrometallurgy is combined with pyrometallurgy. The main chemical reaction in this process is carried out in aqueous solution. Copper (zinc) minerals are oxidized or roasted with sulfuric acid in advance to make them soluble, and then leached and purified to extract electrolytic copper. There are usually RLE method, atmospheric ammonia leaching method (abbitt method), high-pressure ammonia leaching method and bacterial leaching method. From roasting → leaching → purification → electrodeposition, referred to as RLE method. Its production process, hydrometallurgy, is mainly suitable for extracting copper from low-grade oxidized ore, waste ore heap and flotation tailings. Electrolytic aluminum process of Shanghai nonferrous metal mesh (): Modern aluminum industry adopts cryolite-alumina molten salt electrolysis method. Melted cryolite is used as solvent, alumina is used as solute in electrolytic aluminum production, carbon body is used as anode, and aluminum liquid is used as cathode. After strong direct current is applied, electrochemical reaction, namely electrolysis, is carried out at the two poles in the electrolytic cell at the temperature of 950-970℃. The chemical reaction is mainly carried out by this equation: 2Al2O3==4Al 3O2. Anode: 2O2ˉ-4eˉ=O2↑ Cathode: Al3 3eˉ=Al. The anode products are mainly carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which contain a certain amount of harmful gases such as hydrogen fluoride and solid dust. In order to protect the environment and human health, it is necessary to purify the anode gas to remove harmful gases and dust, and then discharge them into the atmosphere. The cathode product is liquid aluminum, which is pumped out of the tank by vacuum bag, sent to the casting workshop, purified and clarified in the holding furnace, cast into aluminum ingots or directly processed into wire blanks and profiles. As can be seen from the above, the production process of electrolytic copper is different from electrolytic aluminum.