Devices and methods of copper recovery

Abstract

Contemplated configurations and methods allow for effective removal of copper from aqueous media by selectively concentrating copper in a first stage, wherein competing metal ions are subjected to a redox reaction to thereby increase selective concentration. Copper is then plated in a flow through electrode from a relatively concentrated copper solution that is depleted from competing non-copper metals. In preferred aspects, the first stage provides a copper-depleted effluent that includes zinc and / or manganese for further recovery.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of our International patent application with the serial number PCT / US06 / 37747, which was filed Sep. 26, 2007.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The field of the invention is remediation of aqueous media, especially remediation of water contaminated with copper and optionally other metals (particularly iron).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Metal recovery from water, and especially copper recovery from acid mine drainage is often technically complex and / or economically challenging as copper is frequently present in relatively small quantities and numerous other non-copper metals interfere with its isolation. Consequently, vast quantities of copper contaminated water have accumulated over decades and remain untreated.[0004]For example, the Berkeley open pit copper mine ceased operations in 1982 and since then, groundwater from the surrounding basin leaked into the pit. As the water passed through metal deposits, the sulfuric acid content of th...

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Benefits of technology

[0010]Among other advantages, contemplated configurations and methods allow for selective copper enrichment from low to moderate concentrations without significant interference from non-copper metals. Thus, high current efficiencies and high copper purity are achieved while producing a copper depleted solution that may be further used for recovery of remaining metals (e.g., zinc and manganese).

Problems solved by technology

Metal recovery from water, and especially copper recovery from acid mine drainage is often technically complex and / or economically challenging as copper is frequently present in relatively small quantities and numerous other non-copper metals interfere with its isolation.

Consequently, vast quantities of copper contaminated water have accumulated over decades and remain untreated.

As most of such processes rely on hydroxide formation, enormous quantities of base are required where the wastewater is acidic.

Moreover, as copper is often present in relatively dilute form in such wastewaters, mixing and separation of the precipitate are impractical in most cases.

While such process tend to overcome at least some of the disadvantages of purely pH based copper precipitation, large scale applications will still often be impractical.

However, such methods often require additional treatments and will therefore not be economically attractive in many circumstances.

However, recovery of copper from such materials is often problematic and requires additional steps and / or materials.

While such adsorption is conceptually simple, difficulties are often encountered with binding of non-copper metals, decomposition of organic material and redox processes during electroelution.

However, plating efficiency is critically dependent on the copper concentration and is therefore not practicable in most configurations.

While such cathodes typically increase current efficiency, numerous difficulties nevertheless remain.

Among other things, Sunderland's configurations are limited to copper concentrations in wastewater of less than 50 ppm.

However, these and other known processes fail to remedy problems associated with competing electrochemical reactions of non-target metals.

Thus, while numerous compositions and methods for devices and methods of copper recovery from aqueous media are known in the art, all or almost all of them suffer from one or more disadvantages.

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