Avimetal’s Cyclone Electrorefining System is an advanced metal refining technology designed to improve on conventional flat-plate electrorefining. It uses a vertical cylindrical cell with controlled cyclone-style electrolyte circulation to increase ion movement, improve mass transfer, and support more uniform metal deposition. The system is designed to selectively dissolve copper or other base-metal anodes, recover high-purity refined metal at the cathode, and collect valuable noble-metal byproducts such as gold, silver, and PGMs as anode slimes for further recovery. It offers potential benefits including faster refining, better deposition quality, improved slime management, higher recovery efficiency, and a more compact modular refining system.
Cyclone Electrorefining vs. Traditional Plate-Type Electrorefining
| Item | Our Cyclone Electrorefining Cell | Traditional Plate-Type ER Cell |
|---|---|---|
| Cell design | Cyclone/turbulent flow cell | Flat plate cathode/anode cell |
| Chemical use | About 20% of conventional use | Higher chemical consumption |
| Metal transfer | High mass transfer from cyclone flow | Slower ion transfer, boundary-layer limitation |
| Processing speed | Faster reaction and recovery | Slower refining cycle |
| Footprint | Compact, modular, stackable | Large tanks and plate banks required |
| Operation | Continuous, automated operation possible | Batch-style plate handling required |
| Labor | Lower labor, less manual handling | Higher labor for plate removal/stripping |
| Maintenance | Fewer plate-handling issues | More maintenance on plates, contacts, spacing |
| Energy efficiency | Lower resistance and better flow efficiency | Higher energy loss in large bath systems |
| Low-grade recovery | Strong recovery from low-grade/complex feed | Less efficient for very low concentration metals |
| Scalability | Easy to scale by adding cyclone modules | Scale requires larger buildings and tank farms |
| Environmental impact | Less chemical waste, less sludge, easier closed-loop system | More chemical waste and larger wastewater load |
| Main advantage | High efficiency, low chemical use, small footprint | Proven conventional large-scale process |
| Competitive position | Advanced modular U.S. refining technology | Traditional Plate ER system |
