Copper electrolytic refining department (Tankhouse)

Copper electrolytic refining is carried out in the Tankhouse (copper electrolysis department) with unsupported technology the first ever in Russia. Copper cathodes are obtained by deposition of copper on cathode plates made of titanium and stainless steel. As a result of the unsupported technology, it was possible to achieve a very high purity of copper cathodes (the average copper content in the cathodes is 99.997%). For the product analysis, modern analytical equipment is used: atomic emission spectrometers «THERMO SCIENTIFIC» (USA) with spark excitation of the spectrum, gas analyzers «RON-600» by LECO (USA).

Washing and stripping of copper cathodes, weighing and strapping of cathode packages are carried out in automatic mode on cathode stripping machines manufactured by WENMEC (Sweden), OUTOKUMPU and OUTOTEC (Finland).

Disposal of spent electrolyte is carried out in the vitriol production department, with modern domestic technology with the use of vacuum crystallization units. The new technology has improved product quality, working conditions and environmental conditions. Copper and nickel are extracted from the solutions of the copper electrolytic refining department in the form of commercial products – copper sulphate, copper vitriol and nickel sulfate, grade «P» (pure). Copper sulfate meets the requirements of GOST 19347-2014 of the highest grade «A». The company’s specialists have developed and patented a technology for obtaining nickel from the spent solutions in the form of nickel sulfate, which meets the requirements of GOST 4465-2016 of the «P» grade.

Refined gold and silver are obtained with the technology and equipment of the «OUTOKUMPU» company (Finland) from the sludge formed during the copper and secondary raw materials electrolytic refining. The plant specialists have developed and implemented technologies for separation of the concentrate obtaining platinum and palladium in powder. The modern technology with an automated process control system provides stable production of high-purity gold and silver in ingots and pellets.