Method for separating valuable metal elements from copper-containing metals

The invention discloses a method for separating valuable metal elements from copper-containing metal. The method comprises the following steps: (a) immersing an anode and the copper-containing metal serving as a cathode into an electrolyte with an acidic or alkaline pH value; and (b) providing a predetermined voltage to the anode and the cathode to form a gaseous film around the cathode during the electrolytic reaction between the cathode and the electrolyte, the predetermined voltage being sufficient to break down the gaseous film around the cathode so as to generate plasma in the electrolyte to precipitate solid copper metal or copper oxide, and the impurity element is dissolved in the electrolyte and is in an ionic state. When the pH value of the electrolyte is acidic, the step (b) is to separate out the solid copper metal; when the pH value of the electrolyte is alkaline, the step (b) is to precipitate the solid copper oxide. The gaseous film around the cathode is punctured through the preset voltage in t