Copper recovery from nickel laterite with high‐iron content: A continuous process from mining waste

Copper and zinc adsorption from bacterial biomass - possibility of low-cost industrial wastewater treatment

The increasing interest of all stakeholders to achieve environmental protection with socioeconomic development puts pressure on industrial processes for less negative impact on the environment. The use of biomass for wastewater treatment has increased due to its low costs and technical feasibility. The present study aimed the use of biomass from a waste of known polluted area for the adsorption of Zn and Cu in a fixed-bed reactor. Samples were collected in Cubatão (Brazil) and cultivated in LB medium. Resulting cultivable bacterial communities were identified as Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Adsorption experiments were performed varying the metallic ion concentration and the amount of biomass. Adsorption experiments showed efficiency rates up to 90%. As the concentration of metallic ions increased, the adsorption efficiency decreased, indicating that the active sites were saturated. Activated charcoal demonstrated lower adsorption rates than biomass. Elution process showed that HNO₃ had better efficiency than HCl. Zn adsorption fitted better for Lineweaver-Burk model (Q_max= 200 mg/g of biomass), while Cu adsorption fitted better for Langmuir model (Q_max= 164 mg/g of biomass). Results here demonstrated that the adsorption of Zn and Cu simulating an industrial wastewater by the biomass from a contaminated area is technically feasible.

Cu2+, Cr3+, and Ni2+ in mono- and multi-component aqueous solution adsorbed in passion fruit peels in natura and physicochemically modified: a comparative approach

Among the low-cost adsorbent are agricultural residues, which can be used in natura or modified forms. This work evaluated the adsorption of Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cr³⁺ in mono- and multi-component aqueous solutions using passion fruit peels in natura (Nat-PF) and physicochemically modified (Mod-PF). The adsorption was investigated by kinetic and isotherm models. A comparative investigation was conducted to analyze the effect of the experimental conditions by statistical test, adsorption capacity ratio, selectivity of adsorbate, and distribution coefficient. In both adsorbents, the process occurs in monolayer by chemosorption. Equilibrium was reached after 30 min, with highest adsorption capacity for Cu²⁺ as 0.495 mg g^-1, for Cr³⁺ as 0.483 mg g^-1, and for Ni²⁺ as 0.464 mg g^-1. The adsorption in Mod-PF was less affected in multi-component solutions, reducing the adsorption capacity by 0.06-0.15 times when compared to monocomponent solutions, while in Nat-PF a reduction of more than half of adsorption capacity was obtained. The modifications imposed on the biomass led to a change in its adsorptive selective, being Cr³⁺  > Cu²⁺  > Ni²⁺ for Nat-PF and Cu²⁺  > Ni²⁺  > Cr³⁺ for Mod-PF.

Resources recovery-Separation and recovery of copper from desalination brine through Lewatit TP 207 resin

Because of freshwater scarcity caused by extreme climate change, desalination technique has been developed in many countries to acquire freshwater. However, desalination plants worldwide not only produce freshwater but also generate large amounts of high salinity wastewater (brine). Brine discharge will decrease the concentration of dissolved oxygen in seawater and affect the organism's habitat. The only merit of the brine is that the concentrations of valuable metals in brine are higher than in seawater. Therefore, it is an opportunity to recover metals from brine and solve the environmental problem simultaneously. This study then aims to recover copper from brine through the ion exchange method. The research could be divided into three parts. To begin with, the saturated adsorption capacity of copper through Lewatit TP 207 resin was 30.58 mg/g, and the adsorption behavior was in accord with the Langmuir model. The optimal parameters of copper adsorption through the resin would be surveyed in the second part. The results demonstrated that 16.1 mg/l of copper could be adsorbed from brine under contacting period of 16 min, pH 14, L/S ratio of 2000, and temperature at 328 K. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters would also be explored to realize how the adsorption reaction was processed. Lastly, different agents and desorption parameters would be investigated to separate the copper from the resin. The copper compound and the resin could be obtained and regenerated after desorption. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Reusing desalination brine could reduce its amount of discharge and increase its value. A 16.1 mg/l of copper could be adsorbed from desalination brine through the Lewatit TP 207 system. The optimal parameters are contacting period of 16 min, pH 14, L/S ratio of 2000, and temperature at 328 K. After adsorbing, copper could be desorbed by HCl, and copper chloride could be acquired by vacuum drying the solutions. This is a method with the goal of laboratory-safe, low-cost, and high-energy efficiency.

Copper recovery by cementation process from polymeric membrane concentrate flows and sensor integration

In this study, copper recovery and sensor integration for concentrate flows of membrane processes were studied. In the first phase, cementation tests for copper recovery were carried out with various different Fe/Cu stoichiometric ratios, copper concentrations, temperatures, and stirring speeds. The effects of the parameters which were stirring speed, temperature, stoichiometric ratio, and concentration in the solution on the cementation process were determined. In the second phase, a novel electroanalytical sensor was applied to concentrate flow. The application of cementation within the scope of precious metal recovery from concentrate streams by integrating a sensor to the process as an innovative online-sensing-approach is conducted. Four different copper concentrations (64, 128, 512, 1280 mg/L) and 5 different Fe/Cu stoichiometric ratios for these concentrations were studied. For concentrations of 64 mg/L and 128 mg/L, 1/1, 2/1, 5/1, 7/1, 10/1 Fe/Cu ratios and for both 512 mg/L and 1280 mg/L concentrations, 1/1, 1.25/1, 1.5/1, 1.75/1, 2/1 Fe/Cu ratios were applied. The cumulative average of ICP-MS linearity of developed electroanalytical sensor was 94.9%. The efficient recovery of copper from the concentrate flows with the sensor integrated-cementation process has a strong potential for "Industry 4.0" applications with enhanced automation levels.

Activated carbons from passion fruit shells in adsorption of multimetal wastewater

This work aims to use a solid agro-industrial residue (passion fruit shells-PF) to manufacture different activated carbons (ACs) capable to retain Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, and Ni²⁺ on synthetic wastewater. The PF was carbonized and chemically activated with three precursors, giving rise to three ACs: phosphoric acid ([Formula: see text]), sodium acetate ([Formula: see text]), and potassium hydroxide (AC_KOH). The ACs were characterized by SEM, ASAP, FTIR, and pH-PZC. The adsorption phenomena were studied by kinetic and isotherm models. The efficiency of the process was investigated in mono- and multimetallic solution with two-way ANOVA and Tukey test at 95% confidence interval. The physical-chemical modifications in the solid increased the surface area, the porosity, and the heterogeneity. The phenomena had a better fit to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and to the Freundlich isotherm model. Analyzing the interaction between the ACs and the composition of the solutions, the selectivity of the solid and the competition for activated sites were verified. Efficiencies higher than 95% were obtained for Ni²⁺, 80% for Cu²⁺, and 70% for Cr³⁺. The viability of the process in mono- and multimetallic solutions opens the possibility of integrated management of metallic wastewater and agro-industrial residues.

Purification of Industrial Copper Electrolyte from Bismuth Impurity

This work focused on purifying copper electrolytes from a bismuth impurity on a laboratory scale. The electrolyte came from Polish copper electrorefineries with the content of main components, g/dm3: 49.6 Cu, 160 H2SO4. The electrolyte was enriched in bismuth by Bi2O3 addition. Purification of bismuth contamination was carried out using selected agents with adsorbing effects, such as barium hydroxide octahydrate, strontium carbonate, barium carbonate, barium and lead sulfates. The trials were performed until achieving the Bi level—below 0.1 g/dm3. During the experiments, it was noticed that electrolyte purification degree depends on initial Bi concentration in electrolyte, time and temperature, as well as on the type and amount of the bismuth-lowering agent. The most satisfactory results of Bi impurity removal were with additions of barium hydroxide octahydrate, strontium carbonate and barium carbonate to electrolyte at 60 °C for 1 h. These parameters revealed the highest electrolyte purification degree. Bismuth is not removed effectively from electrolytes by barium sulfate or lead sulfate addition. The efficiency of the purification process is much higher when the agents are added to the solution in the form of carbonates or hydroxides. Extending the electrolyte purification process time may cause dissolution of bismuth from the resulting precipitate and increase of bismuth concentration in electrolytes.

Cobalt Recovery from Li-Ion Battery Recycling: A Critical Review

The increasing demand for Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles sheds light upon the Co supply chain. The metal is crucial to the cathode of these batteries, and the leading global producer is the D.R. Congo (70%). For this reason, it is considered critical/strategic due to the risk of interruption of supply in the short and medium term. Due to the increasing consumption for the transportation market, the batteries might be considered a secondary source of Co. The outstanding amount of spent batteries makes them to a core of urban mining warranting special attention. Greener technologies for Co recovery are necessary to achieve sustainable development. As a result of these sourcing challenges, this study is devoted to reviewing the techniques for Co recovery, such as acid leaching (inorganic and organic), separation (solvent extraction, ion exchange resins, and precipitation), and emerging technologies—ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvent, supercritical fluids, nanotechnology, and biohydrometallurgy. A dearth of research in emerging technologies for Co recovery from Li-ion batteries is discussed throughout the manuscript within a broader overview. The study is strictly connected to the Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) number 7, 8, 9, and 12.