ELECTROCHEMISTRY IN REFINING METAL INDUSTRY

According to Chau Kok Yew (2016), electrochemistry is the study of the production of
electricity from the energy released during spontaneous chemical reactions and the use of
electrical power to bring about non-spontaneous chemical transformations. This movement
of electrons is called electricity, which can be generated by movements of electrons from
one element to another in a reaction known as an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction. A
redox reaction is a reaction that involves a change in the oxidation state of one or more
elements. When a substance loses an electron, its oxidation state increases; thus, it is
oxidized. When a substance gains an electron, its oxidation state decreases, thus being
reduced. Meyer (2005) say a large number of metals, sodium hydroxide, chlorine, fluorine,
and many other chemicals are produced by electrochemical methods. In our daily life,
batteries and fuel cells convert chemical energy into electrical energy and are used on a
large scale in various instruments and devices. The reactions carried out electrochemically
can be energy efficient and less polluting.

An electrochemical cell generally consists of two half-cells, each containing an electrode in

contact with an electrolyte. The electrode is an electronic conductor (such as a metal or
carbon) or a semiconductor. Current flows through the electrodes via the movement of
electrons. An electrolyte is a phase in which ions carry charge. For example, a solution of
+¿¿
table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) in water is an electrolyte containing sodium cations ( Na
−¿¿
) and chloride anions Cl When an electric field is applied across this solution, the ions
+¿¿ −¿¿
move ( Na ) toward the negative side of the area and Cl toward the positive side. There
are two types of electrochemical cell which is Galvanic Cell and Electrolytic Cell. Galvanic
Cell meaning when Cell energy is extracted from a spontaneous chemical process or
reaction, and it is converted to electric current. For example, Daniell Cell is a Galvanic Cell
in which Zinc and Copper are used for the redox reaction to take place as diagram shown
below.

Zink (s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Zn2+¿¿(aq) + Cu(s)

Oxidation Half : Zink(s) → Zn2+¿¿(aq) + 2e

Reduction Half : Cu2 +¿¿(aq) + 2e → Cu(s)

Diagram 1 : Daniell Cell

(corrosion-doctors.org)
Zink is the reducing agent, and Cu2+¿ ¿ is the oxidizing agent. The half cells are also known
as Electrodes. The oxidation half is known as anode, and the reduction half is called
cathode. Electrons flow from anode to cathode in the external circuit. Anode is assigned
negative polarity, and cathode is assigned positive polarity. In Daniell Cell, Zink acts as the
anode, and Copper acts as the cathode.

Therefore, Electrolytic Cell means an electrochemical cell that drives a non-spontaneous

redox reaction through the application of electrical energy. They are often used to
decompose chemical compounds in a process called electrolysis—the Greek word lysis
means to break up. When these electrodes are dipped in an electrolytic solution containing
cations and anions, the ions move towards electrodes of opposite polarity, and simultaneous
reduction and oxidation takes place. For example, Electrolysis of Water. Electrolysis of water
produces the ultimate in clean fuels( H 2 and O 2 ).

Diagram 2 : Electrolysis of Water

(www.wikihow.com)

Direct current can be used to split water(electrolysis), as shown in the diagram 2 above.

At the cathode, hydrogen ions gain electrons:

2H+(aq) + 2e- → H2(g)

At the anode, water loses electrons, forming oxygen and hydrogen ions:

2H2O(l) → O2(g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e-

Electrochemistry has become one of the most important thing in our daily life. There are a lot
use of electrochemistry, one of the significant uses of electrochemistry is the refining of
copper. Unlike aluminum, copper metal is relatively easy to obtain chemically from its ores.
But by electrolysis, it can be refined and made very pure—up to 99.999%. Pure copper is
important in making electrical wire because impurities reduce copper's electrical
conductivity. These impurities include such valuable metals as silver, gold, and platinum;
when they are removed by electrolysis and recovered, they go a long way toward paying the
electricity bill (Foster C. Nix 2016 via BBC News).

The electrolytic refining of copper, the impure copper is made from the anode in an
electrolyte bath of copper sulfate, CuSO 4 , and sulfuric acid H 2 SO4 . The cathode is a sheet
of very pure copper. Flemings(1974) studied say as current is passed through the solution,
positive copper ions, Cu2+¿ ¿ in the solution are attracted to the negative cathode, where they
take on electrons and deposit themselves as neutral copper atoms, thereby building up more
and more pure copper on the cathode. Meanwhile, copper atoms in the positive anode give
up electrons and dissolve into the electrolyte solution as copper ions. But the impurities in
the anode do not go into solution because silver, gold, and platinum atoms are not as easily
oxidized (converted into positive ions) as copper is. So the silver, gold, and platinum simply
fall from the anode to the bottom of the tank, where they can be scraped up as shown in
diagram 3 below.

These are the half-equations:

anode: Cu → Cu2+ + 2e- (oxidation)
cathode: Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu (reduction)

Diagram 3 : The electrolytic refining of

copper
(spmchemistry.blog.onlinetuition.com.my)

As we know all things have their own advantages and disadvantages as well as refining
metal. The first advantages of refining metal are it can conserve natural resources. By
refining the recycling metals, we can preserve natural resources. Instead of drilling deep to
get new pure materials, many recycling firms are opting to recycle and refining metals, Ryan
Hellyer(2015). This reduces the money use, protects the natural landscapes, and protects
wildlife because pre-mining conditions can disturb animals from their inhabiting areas. The
refining method also can increase efficiency and decreasing cost and environmental damage
of rare earth refinement. The global issues concerning platinum group elements, radioactive
minerals, rare metals, lithium, and phosphorus result primarily from a lack of distribution as
opposed to a lack of production efficiency. According to United States Environmental
Protection Agency(EPA), we should recycle metal by refining them to get pure metal. For
example, by refining the unused unpure copper, we can get pure metal and used it instead
of throw it away and buy a new one. 

The disadvantage of refining metals is it need a long time to complete the electrolysis
process fully, Ryan Hellyer(2015). At the same time, this proses need power source such as
a battery to run the operation. In this case, we need a lot of energy to fasten the proses, by
doing that we will waste electricity. One of the solutions suggest by Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is we do the proses on a big scale, which
means using a lot of metal and heat. By doing that, we can reduce time and power wasting.

In my opinion, electrolysis has many benefits to human life. But it also has a detrimental
effect on the environment, so we need to make sure that the benefits of electrolysis are best
used and that the disadvantages can be avoided. In this case, an organization should take
their part by creating a specific sector for electrolysis, and this sector will provide a service
for everyone to doing the electrochemistry process such ah electroplating or refining.

In summary, electrochemistry has an important use in our day to day life, because it
provides several products as well as makes us look good and satisfied. It includes fuel, as in
hydrogen, and gives us new life, as for the oxygen. There are indeed disadvantages for
electrochemistry, like giving us scars, creating pollution or increases the time required for
making one product however it has so many good effects too, like providing permanent hair
loss to most people as well as give a lustrous look to a dull metal or even provide electricity
in emergency or mobile devices. I think without electrochemistry, our life would be
incomplete. Electrochemistry plays a vital role in modern life. Whether it is the production of
aluminum, electroplating metals, or producing certain chemical compounds, the process of
electrolysis is essential in the daily life of most people. Therefore, the study of
electrochemistry is important for creating new technologies that are ecofriendly.

Reference

Charles Burroughs Gill, Clarence H. Lorig (December 26, 2018) Metallurgy, Encyclopædia

Britannica, inc. Access on March 3, 2020 from
https://www.britannica.com/science/metallurgy

Chau Kok Yew (2016). Fokus Express SPM Chemistry Tingkatan 4. Selangor Darul Ehsan.
Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd.

Geiger, D., Flemings, M., & Mehrabian, R. (1974). Methods of refining metal alloys. U.S.
Patent No. 3,840,364. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Harryson Mj (30 January 2020). Customers 'overpaid for electricity for years' BBC News
Online from Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-
51298733

Meyer, D. F., Gamache, P. H., & Acworth, I. N. (2005). The application of electrochemistry.
In Metabolome Analyses: Strategies for Systems Biology (pp. 119-135). Springer,
Boston, MA.

My Home Tuition (2018). SPM Chemistry. Industrial Applications of Electrolysis –

Purifying Copper. Access on March 3, 2020 from
http://spmchemistry.blog.onlinetuition.com.my/2012/06/industrial-applications-of-
electrolysis-purifying-copper.html

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2017). Recycling of copper, lead
and zinc bearing wastes. Access on March 3, 2020 from
https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-
cse&cx=012432601748511391518:xzeadub0b0a&q=http://www.oecd.org/officialdoc
uments/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/%3Fcote%3DOCDE/GD(95)78%26docLanguage
%3DEn&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjRxa7k_JzoAhVh7HMBHYMoDrMQFjACegQICR
AB&usg=AOvVaw3syEIGyOpdzyi6xBNm_5Oq

Ryann Helllyer (2015). The importance of metal refinement, Matt Dufeu. Access on March
3, 2020 from https://mattdufeu.co.uk/blog/the-importance-of-metal-refinement/
Sustainable Materials Management (2001) United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Access on March 3, 2020 from https://www.epa.gov/smm/recycling-economic-
information-rei-report