Anode Casting

METTOP FIS provides copper anode casting process monitoring and anode quality optimization to improve the casting process and the subsequent electrorefining step.

The casting process, which is the link between copper pyro- and hydrometallurgy, has a significant influence on anode quality.

Since anode quality in turn directly affects the tankhouse operations, optimizing anode casting is a vital step towards improved tankhouse operations and output. The anodes need to have certain chemical and physical qualities to meet the electrorefining requirements. In order to dissolve evenly, a certain homogeneity across the anode thickness is required. Typically, elemental and structural variations are found between the air- and mouldside, resulting from inhomogeneous cooling conditions.

Optimizing the cooling conditions, especially through watercooling and anode mould design, can result in more homogenous anodes with an improved dissolution behaviour during electrorefining. This can be achieved by combining experimental investigations and measurements with calculation of heat flow and solidification modelling.