Recovery of Bi and Sb from Copper Spent Electrolytes by Electrowinning Method

The consumption of rare metals from the industrial development has been increasing despite of unstable and limited rare metals supply. Copper electrolyte after copper electrorefining contains 200-300 mg/L of bismuth (Bi) and antimony (Sb). Bi and Sb were recovered through electrowinning of electrochemical method. After being concentrated using an ion exchange resin method, Bi was eluted by concentrated sulfuric acid and sodium chloride solution. And then Bi deficient resin was reeluted by hydrochloric acid to elute Sb. Bi or Sb electrowinning cell was using the cation exchange membrane (CEM) to prevent migration of chloride ion to the anodic chamber. The morphologies of deposits were varied with current density and concentration. Over 95% purity of Bi and Sb were obtained by electrowinning method. The surface morphologies and compositions were analyzed by FESEM and EDS.