Anode copper growth problem 1

[buddy28]

I'm looking for some new bright theories regarding this problem at our company.

We use electrowinning to plate copper from a sulfate solution onto copper starter sheets. The anodes being used are in the range of 95% Pb, 5% Sb. The last couple of months some serious problems started emerging as copper growth continually had to be removed from the anodes. The seemingly impossible occurrence of copper reduction at the anode is happening, resulting in the plating thereof onto the anodes. We've had to remove tons of the stuff over a period of time.

Many people have tried explaining this phenomena and attempts have been made to replicate it on small scale, all to no avail.

I would greatly appreciate any help or ideas.
Thanx in advance

 

[Ron]

Sounds like you have developed a contaminant on the anode that is preferential to the copper in solution. Is there some odd oxide that might be developing on the anode surface? Is your solution consistent and not changing?

Have you done an analysis of the copper deposition on the anode to look for trace constituents?

 

[unclesyd]

Have you check the quality of your power?