SX-EW
Encyclopedia
Solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/EW) is a two-stage metallurgy
process that first extracts and upgrades copper
ions from low-grade leach
solutions into a concentrated electrolyte
(Solvent extraction), and then deposits pure copper onto cathode
s using an electrolytic
procedure (electrowinning
).
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
process that first extracts and upgrades copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
ions from low-grade leach
Leach
Leach may refer to:Placenames* Leach, Oklahoma in the United StatesSurnames* Al Leach* Archie Leach, real name of actor Cary Grant* Ben Leach, player in Liverpool-based pop group The Farm* Bernard Leach , British potter* Bobby Leach...
solutions into a concentrated electrolyte
Electrolyte
In chemistry, an electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that make the substance electrically conductive. The most typical electrolyte is an ionic solution, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible....
(Solvent extraction), and then deposits pure copper onto cathode
Cathode
A cathode is an electrode through which electric current flows out of a polarized electrical device. Mnemonic: CCD .Cathode polarity is not always negative...
s using an electrolytic
Electrolyte
In chemistry, an electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that make the substance electrically conductive. The most typical electrolyte is an ionic solution, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible....
procedure (electrowinning
Electrowinning
Electrowinning, also called electroextraction, is the electrodeposition of metals from their ores that have been put in solution or liquefied. Electrorefining uses a similar process to remove impurities from a metal. Both processes use electroplating on a large scale and are important techniques...
).