what is the principle of electrolytic refining?

Electrolytic refining, the electrolysis of aqueous solutions or salt melts, yields metals of high purity. It is used for thorough purification of most nonferrous metals.  Electrolysis can be used to separate metals because the principal metal and the admixtures have different electrochemical potentials.

It is the process of refining impure metals by using electricity. In this process, impure metal is made the anode and a strip of pure metal is made the cathode. A solution of a soluble salt of the same metal is taken as the electrolyte. When an electric current is passed, metal ions from the electrolyte are deposited at the cathode as pure metal and the impure metal from the anode dissolves into the electrolyte in the form of ions. The impurities present in the impure metal gets collected below the anode, known as anode mud.

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The purest copper is obtained by an electrolytic process, undertaken using a slab of impure copper as the anode and a thin sheet of pure copper as the cathode. The electrolyte is an acidic solution of copper sulphate. By passing electricity through the cell, copper is dissolved from the anode and deposited on the cathode. However impurities either remain in solution or collect as an insoluble sludge. This process only became possible following the invention of the dynamo; it was first used in South Wales in 1869.

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The purest copper is obtained by anelectrolyticprocess, undertaken using a slab of impure copper as theanodeand a thin sheet of pure copper as thecathode. Theelectrolyteis an acidic solution of copper sulphate. By passingelectricitythrough the cell, copper is dissolved from the anode and deposited on the cathode. However impurities either remain in solution or collect as an insoluble sludge.

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