Electrolytic refining and electrolytic deposition differ significantly in purpose, principle, raw materials and product form.

Electrolytic refining, as the final refining process in pyrometallurgical processes, has the core task of "impurity removal and purification." It utilizes electrochemical methods to remove impurities that are difficult to remove through pyrometallurgy, producing Grade A copper suitable for high-end applications, and recovering precious metals from the anode slime for economic benefits. The anode is a soluble crude copper plate; when electricity is applied, copper and reactive metals dissolve, and precious metals form anode slime. At the cathode, copper ions are reduced to pure copper.

Electrolytic deposition is the core of hydrometallurgy, suitable for processing low-grade oxide ores, and directly produces copper through a "leaching-extraction-electrodeposition" process. It is positioned as a low-cost and environmentally friendly copper production method. Its anode is an inert lead alloy that does not participate in the reaction, while water molecules are oxidized at the anode; the cathode also reduces copper ions to copper.

In terms of raw materials, solid crude copper plates are used for refining, while liquid copper-containing solutions are used for electrowinning. Regarding products, refined copper has dense crystals and a smooth surface, making it ready for direct use; electrowinning copper has loose, porous crystals and a rough surface, and is often used as billet. The choice of process depends on the source of the raw materials: high-grade sulfide ores or crude copper are processed using pyrometallurgical methods combined with electrolytic refining, while low-grade oxide ores or tailings are processed using leaching-extraction-electrolytic deposition.