SEPARATION OF COPPER FROM A LEACHING SOLUTION OF PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS BY USING SOLVENT EXTRACTION WITH D2EHPA

Author(s)

Jimenez Correa, Monica Maria ^[1] ; Cianga Silvas, Flavia Paulucci ^{[1, 2]} ; Aliprandini, Paula ^[1] ; de Moraes, Viviane Tavares ^[1] ; Dreisinger, David ^[3] ; Romano Espinosa, Denise Crocce ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Politecn, Dept Chem Engn, Lago 250, PO 61548, BR-05424970 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Vale Inst Technol Min, Av Juscelino Kubitschek 31, BR-35400000 Ouro Preto, MG - Brazil

^[3] Univ British Columbia, Dept Mat Engn, 309-6350 Stores Rd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 - Canada

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering; v. 35, n. 3, p. 919-929, JUL-SEP 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Abstract Global generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is increasing quickly. Metals from WEEE can be recovered by using unit operations of chemical engineering. This paper describes a combined hydrometallurgical route (sulfuric oxidant leaching + solvent extraction) to recover copper from printed circuit boards (PCBs). A non-magnetic fraction from comminuted PCBs was used to perform leaching tests at 75ºC for 6 hours in an oxidizing media (sulfuric acid + hydrogen peroxide). In order to separate zinc, aluminum, and copper from the leaching liquor, solvent extraction tests were carried out using D2EHPA. Parameters that influence the process, such as pH, extractant concentration, and the aqueous/organic (A/O) ratio were investigated. Solvent extraction experiments were carried out in two stages: i) separation of zinc, aluminum, and residual iron, and ii) copper separation. The results showed that the leaching obtained around 60% aluminum, 94% copper, 76% zinc, 50% nickel and residual iron from the non-magnetic fraction of PCBs. With the solvent experiments, in the first stage, 100 wt.% zinc, iron and aluminum were extracted at pH 3.5, 2:1 A/O, 10 % (v/v) D2EHPA, while, in the second stage 100% of the copper was extracted at pH 3.5, 1:1 A/O, 20 % (v/v) D2EHPA. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/22614-0 - Synergistic solvent extraction of cooper, zinc and nickel
• Grantee: Monica Maria Jimenez Correa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• FAPESP's process: 12/20350-3 - Separation and purification of metals from printed circuit board of discarded computers using solvent extraction
• Grantee: Monica Maria Jimenez Correa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 12/51871-9 - Study Center for Technology in Waste Solid Treatment and Recycling - SCTWSTR
• Grantee: Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants