A new method for purifying washing acids from copper smelting plants

A new method for purifying washing acids from Cu smelting plants has been proposed. The method is based on effluent electrolysis carried out with electrodes made of different material at strictly defined and maintained conditions. About 65–70 % of the Cu available in the washing acids can be recovered. Concentrations of As, Cl⁻ and SO₄ ^2- can be decreased with about 80–85, 45–50 and 20–30 % correspondingly. Effluents pH value can be raised from 0 to 2.5–3.0.