Modelling a copper electrowinning cell based on reactive electrodialysis

This work reports the development of a mathematical model for the operation of a laboratory-scale copper electrowinning cell based on reactive electrodialysis (RED). Data were obtained from experiments and from the literature. The cathodic reaction was copper electrodeposition and the anodic reaction was ferrous to ferric ion oxidation. The catholyte was aqueous cupric sulphate in sulphuric acid and the anolyte was aqueous ferrous sulphate in sulphuric acid. An anion membrane separated anolyte from catholyte while keeping a conductive path between them. The model includes (a) the cathodic and anodic kinetics, (b) the speciation of catholyte and anolyte and (c) ion transport through the membrane. The computer code was implemented in MATLAB software. The model was calibrated and validated and its predictions are in good agreement with experimental results for: amount of deposited copper, amount of produced Fe(III) species, cell voltage and specific energy consumption.