The direct electrorefining of copper matte

Direct electrorefining of copper matte would be a desirable alternative to copper converting and its associated troublesome sulfur dioxide emissions. After more than 100 years of study, however, no commercial process has been developed, even though an analogous process for the direct electrorefining of nickel matte anodes has been operating successfully for several decades. The unique difficulties associated with copper matte electrorefining are related to the properties of the matte’s decomposition products.