Abstract:Conventional treatment methods for complex copper slags originating from zinc smelting are often constrained by high energy consumption, intricate workflows, and low metal recovery efficiencies. To address these challenges, a streamlined, high-efficiency technology based on cyclone electrowinning was developed. This novel process enabled the synergistic leaching of copper, zinc, and indium while selectively extracting copper, effectively obviating the need for solvent extraction and its associated organic pollution risks. This study specifically investigated electrolytic migration behavior of metal ions—predominantly Cu2+—during direct cyclone electrowinning of polymetallic leachates. Utilizing a four-stage stepwise depletion protocol, the process yielded cathode copper with a purity exceeding 99.97% and a current efficiency greater than 97.83%. By significantly simplifying the traditional "leaching-purification-electrowinning" circuit, this technology provided a green, cost-effective pathway for the circular utilization of copper resources from complex polymetallic slags.