De-metallization of dillute copper sulfate solutions with rotating cylinder cathode

Abstract

An electrolysis cell with rotating cylinder cathode was used to recover copper from copper galvanotechnique industry rinse waters. The effects of cathodic current density, cathode rotating speed, electrolyte temperature and cathode-scraper distance on copper recovery were investigated. Optimum conditions for maximum copper recovery were found as 1000 A/m(2) cathodic current density, 250 min(-1) cathode rotating speed, 60 degreesC electrolyte temperature, and 1 mm cathode-scraper distance. Final copper concentration was 3 mg/L by the experiments run under these conditions, with 3.3 kWh/kg Cu specific energy consumption and 85% current efficiency.