Extractive Metallurgy Division - Copper Refining at the Great Falls Reduction Department of the Anaconda Company

A history of the progress made in copper refining in Montana is presented. The casting furnaces and the newly rebuilt electrolytic refinery are descmbed and operating details are given. Experiences with various addition agents, effects of rernoval of chlorine from the electrolyte, and effects of separan on electrolyte and on copper deposit are discussed. Observatzons are made on the effect of various impurities in anode copper and behavior of thezr salts in electrolyte and in slime, on treatment of slime for removal of copper, and on electrolyte puriification problems. The improved method for production of starting sheets is described. Attention is given to new materials for construction and to improvement in matrials handling ad quality control. COPPER refining at Great Falls, Montana, dates back to 1892. The original plant produced 65,000 lb. of cathodes per day at a current density of 16 amp per sq ft. In this plant anodes and cathodes were handled to and from the cells by means of hand-operated chain blocks and were moved about the plant by hand trucks. Cathodes were melted in coal-fired, reverbera-tory furnaces, were charged by hand, and refined copper was dipped by hand and cast in iron molds. In 1916, a new, modern plant with capacity to refine 18 million Ib. copper per month was built. Two refining furnaces were built, and each was provided with a twenty-mold Clark casting wheel. In 1922, the furnaces were converted to the use of pulverized coal: in 1923, to the use of oil; and in 1928, to the use of natural gas. In 1926, the plant was enlarged 50 pct. The use of pulverized coal for refining copper at Great Falls was discussed1 in a paper presented at the Salt Lake City meeting of the Institute in September 1925. Also, a comparison of the use of various fuels in copper refining furnaces was discussed 2 in a paper presented at the New York meeting of the Institute in February 1932. Prior to 1943 the cellroom was operated with twenty-five 720-lb. anodes and 26 cathodes per cell. Four cathodes, each weighing about 165 lb., were produced from an anode. In 1943 the weight of the anode was reduced to 460 lb., and two cathodes, each weighing about 190 lb., were produced from an anode. In 1949, a Billet Casting Wheel for the production of 3 in. diam phosphor deoxidized billets was built. A paper, presented at the New York Meeting of the Institute in February 1956, describes3 this plant and operation. In the electrolytic refinery, production is controlled by variation of the current density. In 1956, germanium rectifiers on a separate electrical circuit were provided for the starting sheet section so that current density could be maintained at any desired figure. Also in 1956, a program of modernization and enlargement of the Electrolytic Copper Refinery was started. This program, when completed, will raise the capacity of the Great Falls Electrolytic Copper Refinery approximately 33 pct, to 33 million lb. of cathodes per month. Furnace capacity for melting cathodes and anode scrap is ample to take care of the increased production from the electrolytic refinery. This fortunate condition came about primarily as the result of the three following changes: 1) The furnaces were lengthened 10 ft in 1922 when the fireboxes were found unnecessary for burning powdered coal. 2) Furnace life, and hence furnace capacity, was increased by the successful efforts of the Copper Refinery staff to develop a method for sanding furnace side walls and roof. 3) The natural gas being used has a very low sulfur content. As a result, it is possible to reduce time spent rabbling and poling and thus greatly increase tons per furnace charge. TANKHOUSE AND TANKS The Great Falls Electrolytic Refinery is 535 ft long by 252 ft wide. The cells are arranged in four crane bays in which are operated seven 10 ton Whiting Cranes. The old cells are in groups of ten, with circulation of electrolyte through five cells in cascade and with aisles between the groups of ten cells. The new cells are nested in groups of sixteen with no aisles, are all on one level, and have individual circulation to each cell. Present plans call for 1792 commercial cells and 128 stripper cells. To reduce confusion during the construction period, and to use the cranes, cars, and other equipment already on hand, the cells in the rebuilt section were designed to have approximately the same inside dimensions as the cells in the old part of the