Abstract:It has been a hot spot and challenge in the research on copper electrorefining process to maintain Cu2+ concentration within the range required by production. The evaporative crystallization of copper electrolyte is a key factor in ensuring proper Cu2+ concentration. Effects on crystal mass by strong magnetic field circulating system in the process of electrolyte evaporative crystallization and cooling are tested to analyze the internal mechanism of resonance associated with magnetization time, flow rate and copper electrolyte under strong magnetic field. Based on the results, when strong magnetic field acts synergically on copper electrolyte, resonance will occur to maximum between the constant magnetic field intensity and the rotational energy state of molecules in the copper electrolyte, promoting evaporative crystallization and cooling of the electrolyte. The lower the flow rate and the longer the magnetization time, the better the evaporative crystallization and cooling of electrolyte will be. At the optimal parameters for evaporative crystallization, i.e. magnetic field intensity 3T, flow rate 0.3m/s and magnetization time 1.5h, the evaporation rate of electrolyte increases by 14%. For the cooling process, the optimal parameters of magnetic field intensity 3T, flow rate 0.3m/s and magnetization time 1.5h contribute to an evaporation rate increase of 5% and a crystal mass increase of 19.73%. To optimize the evaporative crystallization process of copper electrolyte by magnetic field can significantly improve electrolyte purification efficiency. It is positive to mitigate the concentration polarization of copper electrolysis process and stimulates the copper acid ratio of electrolyte to stay in dynamic equilibrium. The quality of copper cathode is thus improved at lower energy consumption during the copper electrolysis process.
