Study of copper separation from mining wastewater and synthesis of nanoparticles

• Grant number: 17/17340-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório
• Grantee: Iara Alves Anes
• Home Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mining is important for the Brazilian economy, since it contributes to GDP and job creation. As the mineral resources are finite, the development of new techniques for extraction of metals is indispensable. Current extractions are being made with low grade ores, such as nickel laterite. In the processing of nickel laterite, the liquor obtained could contain some metals in its composition, such as iron, nickel, zinc, cobalt, copper, chromium, aluminum, manganese and magnesium. Metals could be separated from the solution and reused as raw materials for industries. The aim of this work is separate metals, such as copper, present in the solution and study the synthesis of nanoparticles, attributing economic value and reusing a mining residue. Copper nanoparticles could be applied in many areas, such as biotechnology and electronics. The separation of the metal would be done using chemical precipitation technique, by sodium dithionite as a reducing agent. Then, the precipitate would be used for the synthesis of nanoparticles, where their stability should be analyzed. Analyzes such as X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) will be used to quantify and analyze the characteristics of the precipitate and the nanoparticle. (AU)