Method for preparing a charge ingot for production of products by casting

A method for producing a charge ingot for production of castings containing copper, nickel and iron, the method comprising:

• covering a spent inert anode previously used in an electrolytic production of aluminium with alumina, wherein:
• the spent inert anode comprises copper, nickel, and iron, and
• dissolution of at least some of the iron during the electrolytic production of aluminum creates voids in the spent anode which are filled with a bath;
• executing a thermal treatment process that reacts the alumina on the covered spent inert anode with the bath to neutralize the bath during the thermal treatment process, wherein the bath flows out of the covered spent inert anode at a temperature within a range of 950-1200° C.;
• and
• in response to executing the thermal treatment process on the covered spent inert anode, soaking the covered spent inert anode in a furnace for at least 3 days.