electrorefined

Electrorefined refers to a process of purification using electrolysis. In this method, an impure metal is used as the anode, and a thin sheet of the pure metal serves as the cathode, immersed in an electrolyte solution containing ions of the metal being purified. When an electric current is passed through the cell, the impure metal at the anode dissolves into the electrolyte as ions. These ions then migrate to the cathode, where they are deposited as a layer of pure metal. Impurities that are less reactive than the anode metal remain in the electrolyte or settle at the bottom as anode sludge, while more reactive impurities stay dissolved. This technique is commonly employed to produce high-purity metals such as copper, silver, gold, and aluminum, which are essential for various industrial applications requiring high conductivity or resistance to corrosion. The efficiency and purity achieved through electrorefining make it a vital step in metallurgy for obtaining metals suitable for electronics, jewelry, and specialized alloys.