EFFICIENCY AND SELECTIVITY OF COPPER PRECIPITATION AS COPPER OXALATE FROM SOLUTIONS FROM THE MINING INDUSTRY

EFFICIENCY AND SELECTIVITY OF COPPER PRECIPITATION AS COPPER OXALATE FROM SOLUTIONS FROM THE MINING INDUSTRY

Plamen Georgiev, Marina Nicolova

University of Mining and Geology “St. Ivan Rilski”, 1700 Sofia; E-mail: ps_georgiev@mgu.bg
Corresponding author: ps_georgiev@mgu.bg

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of calcium and ferrous iron ions on the removal of copper-to-copper oxalate from a model solution containing 0.0069 M Cu2+. Copper oxalate was synthesised under optimal experimental conditions (solution pH of approximately 2.5, temperature of 50 °C, and a stirring rate of 250 rpm). This was an effective process for removing copper from the model solution, and the resulting particles were larger than 200 µm and exhibited excellent filtration characteristics. In contrast, higher concentrations of calcium ions (0.036 M) and ferrous iron ions (0.045 M) decreased the selectivity and efficiency of copper removal, respectively.

Key words: copper, pregnant solutions, copper oxalate, selectivity

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58903/MPIG2657

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