Refining by electrolysis

Refining by electrolysis

The copper anodes produced in the foundry are refined into copper cathodes in the tankhouse by means of electrolysis.  Per anode, three crops of cathodes are produced over a period of three weeks.

After the electrolysis process the precious metals in the copper anode are concentrated in the bottom slimes of the cells. They are collected and sold to companies specialised in the recycling and production of precious metals or further recycled in-house.

The nickel units left in the anodes find themselves back in the electrolyte and are transferred on to the nickel department, where they are converted into nickel briquettes.