Electrolytic copper cathode, Cu-CATH-1 grade, minimum 99.99% purity — produced via electrorefining at certified copper smelting and refinery facilities. Compliant with BS EN 1978 and LME registered specifications. Applied across electrical, electronics, construction, and transportation supply chains. Coolak International Group supplies up to 1,500 MT/month with full CoA/CoO documentation and independent SGS or Intertek inspection, on EXW Tehran terms.
How Is Electrolytic Copper Cathode Produced?
1. Mining & Concentration
Copper ore is extracted and processed through flotation to produce copper concentrate at 25–35% Cu content.
2. Smelting & Converting
Concentrate is smelted in flash or reverberatory furnaces above 1,200°C, producing blister copper at approximately 98–99% purity.
3. Anode Refining
Blister copper is re-melted and cast into anode plates at approximately 99.5% purity.
4. Electrorefining
Copper anodes are suspended in copper sulfate electrolyte tanks. Under direct current, pure copper ions migrate from the anode and deposit onto starter cathode blanks. Impurities — including gold, silver, selenium, and bismuth — settle as anode slime. The result is copper cathode at 99.99% minimum purity.
Electrolytic Cathode vs. SX-EW Cathode
Property | Electrolytic (Pyrometallurgical) | SX-EW (Hydrometallurgical) |
|---|---|---|
Production route | Concentrate smelting + electrorefining | Oxide ore leaching + solvent extraction + electrowinning |
Feedstock | Sulphide concentrate | Oxide ore / heap leach |
Purity | Min. 99.99% | Up to 99.99% (process-dependent) |
LME grade | Cu-CATH-1 — standard registered grade | May or may not qualify for LME registration |
Surface profile | Smooth, crystalline | Typically nodular, rougher surface |
Critical impurity control | Via anode slime separation | Dependent on leach solution quality |
Primary application | Wire rod, cable, high-spec electrical products | General industrial use |
Market preference | Global benchmark — first-choice specification | Acceptable; may trade at a discount in premium markets |
Commercial note: In most international procurement specifications for electrical and electronics manufacturing, electrolytic copper cathode is the baseline grade. Coolak International Group supplies Cu-CATH-1 electrolytic cathode exclusively.