Selective Separation and Recovery of Copperfrom Iron and Copper Mixed Waste by Ammonia Solution
Assistant Professor

Hirokazu KONISHI

Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University
1. Introduction
Recycling of ferrous scrap is an important issue. Copper metal mixed with shredded ferrous
scrap from car motors and cables is difficult to selectively remove by magnetic filtration. The
presence of copper impurities as low as 0.1 mass % prevents the recycling of ferrous scrap, as it
spreads into the iron crystal grain boundary and reduces its resistivity to stretching. Therefore, aprocess to remove copper from ferrous scrap at low cost is required.1) A number of processes forselective separation of copper from ferrous scrap have been proposed and carried out, theseinclude: the chlorination method,2) vacuum distillation, the slag-metal refinement method3) andthe metal immersion method.4) These pyrometallurgical processes have advantages such as highreaction rates and the utilization of existing facilities. However, they also have very high energy
consumption and therefore have not been applied to practical uses. As an alternative,hydrometallurgical processes are attractive in terms of both high separation yield and low
energy consumption even though they have low reaction rates.
Among hydrometallurgical processes, the ammonia leaching process is well known.
Ammonia solution dissolves copper with very high selectivity where iron and aluminum are notdissolved. Many studies have been conducted on the dissolution of copper in ammonia
solutions.5-8) However, problems relating to the separation of copper and iron using ammonia
solutions have not been solved.
On the basis of this background, we focused on the selective separation of copper from ironand copper mixed waste using the ammonia leaching process.

Dissolution of copper inammonia solutions containing ammonium chloride or sulfate was examined in the present study.
2.

Potential-pH Diagram of the Cu-NH3-H2O System
The potential-pH diagram assists in understanding the mechanism of various reactions inaqueous solutions. The potential-pH diagram of the Cu-NH3-H2O system9,10) (Fig. 1) is obtained
under a Cu activity of 0.5 and a total NH3 and NH4+ concentration of 7 kmol m-3. The brokenlines indicate the following reactions:
2H+ + 2e- = H2+(1)-O2 + 4H + 4e = 2H2O(2)Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexed with NH3 are stable ionic species in neutral and alkaline㧙㧙solutions. In the presence of excess ammonia, Cu(I) and Cu(II) are also stable as Cu(NH3)2+ andCu(NH3)42+. The oxidation-reduction reactions of Cu(II)/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu are expressed asfollows:
Cu(NH3)42+ + e- = Cu(NH3)2+ + 2NH3+(3)-Cu(NH3)2 + e = Cu + 2NH3(4)The oxidation-reduction potential of Cu(NH3)42+/ Cu(NH3)2+ is more positive than that ofCu(NH3)2+/Cu. This indicates that Cu(NH3)42+ can oxidize metallic copper in an ammoniacal
alkaline solution. Moreover, the oxidation-reduction potential of Cu(I)/Cu is more positive thanthat of hydrogen evolution (eq. (1)), indicating Cu(I) can be preferentially reduced to metalliccopper. In the aqueous solutions of CuSO4-NH3-(NH4)2SO4 and CuCl2-NH3-NH4Cl used in thiswork, Cu(II) was present as stable Cu(NH3)42+. The pH was within the range of 8~10 and Cu
was leached by Cu(NH3)42+ as in reaction (5).
Cu + Cu(NH3)42+ ĺ 2Cu(NH3)2+(5)Potential / V vs. SHE

1.2

0.8
Cu2+Cu(OH)20.4
Cu2O
0Cu(NH3)42+(4)(1)

Cu(OH)2

CuH20(3)Cu(NH3)2+-0.4

-0.8

O2(2)

48

pH / 㪄

12Cu2O

16Fig. 1. Potential-diagram of the Cu-NH3-H2O system at 298 K calculated by assuming thatthe activity of copper is 0.5 and that the total concentration of the ammonia is 7 kmol m-3.
3.

ExperimentalThe samples used were copper plates (99.9 mass % Cu, 0.10×20×20 mm3)

and iron plates (99.5 mass % Fe, 0.10×20×20 mm3). All chemical reagents were given by Wako
Pure Chemical Industries Ltd. The leaching solution was prepared from CuCl2䍃2H2O (purity99 %), NH3 solution (purity 25 %) and NH4Cl (purity 99 %), or CuSO4䍃5H2O (purity 99.5 %,),
NH3 solution and (NH4)2SO4 (purity 99.5 %,). The experimental apparatus for leaching of thecopper and iron plates is shown in Fig. 2. Plates were immersed in the leaching solutions, which㧙㧙were stirred at 298~353 K. After stirring, the plates were rinsed with water and acetone, and theweights were measured. The leaching speed of copper was calculated from the obtained weightloss data. Optimum concentrations of NH3 and NH4Cl were determined for dissolution ofcopper.
2020

Specimen

111.2

Round
plate

106.0
73.3

0.10

43.5
30.5

Stirring
barBeaker

Solution

7.9

Magnetic hot-plate stirrer

Fig. 2. Schematic representation of experimental apparatus for leaching of Cu and Fe
plates in ammoniacal alkaline solutions; dimensions in mm.
4.

Results and Discussion

4.1.

Dissolution of Cu in an Ammonia Solution Containing Ammonium Sulfate

In order to investigate the leaching behavior of copper, copper plates were immersed andstirred in a solution of 7 kmol m-3 NH3 and 1 kmol m-3 (NH4)2SO4 containing 0.5 kmol m-3
Cu(II) at 313 K.

The leaching ratio of copper increased with stirring speed in Fig. 3. The

copper plate was completely dissolved in the ammoniacal alkaline solution after stirring for 120
min at 100 rpm, 60 min at 300 rpm, and 40 min at 600 rpm. At 353 K the leaching ratio reached
100 % after stirring for 20 min at 600 rpm in Fig. 4. The elevated bath temperature increased theleaching speed due to ion activation and a decrease in the viscosity of the ammoniacal alkaline
solution.
Copper weight loss per unit surface area was measured under the above mentioned conditions.
In Fig. 5, the relationship between copper weight loss per unit surface area and immersion timeat 313 K was approximately linear in all conditions. The weight loss at 600 rpm was three-times
as much as that at 0 rpm. Moreover, the slopes (indicating leaching speeds) were steeper atincreased stirring speeds. The leaching speed at 600 rpm was calculated to be 0.80 kg m-2 h-1. At㧙㧙

353 K similar results were observed in Fig 6. However, line slopes (leaching speed) at 353 K
were found to be steeper than those at 313 K. The leaching speed at 600 rpm and 353 K wascalculated to be 1.65 kg m-2 h-1, more than twice that at 600 rpm and 313 K.

100
Leachingpercent(%)
ratio (%)
Leaching

Leachingpercent(%)
ratio (%)
Leaching

10050
䂺 0 rpm
䂾 100 rpm
䂔 300 rpm
䂦 600 rpm
01206050

䂾 100 rpm
䂔 300 rpm
䂦 600 rpm0Immersing time t (min)Immersing time t (min)Fig. 3. Relationship between leaching
percent and immersion time t in 7 kmol m-3
NH3 and 1 kmol m-3 (NH4)2SO4 containing
0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at 313 K.

Fig. 4. Relationship between leaching
percent and immersion time t in 7 kmol m-3
NH3 and 1 kmol m-3 (NH4)2SO4 containing
0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at 353 K.

0.5

䂺 0 rpm
䂾 100 rpm
䂔 300 rpm
䂦 600 rpm
60

120

Weight loss of copper per unit surface area(kg䊶m-2)

Weight loss of copper per unit surface area(kg䊶m-2)

0.5060300

䂾 100 rpm
䂔 300 rpm
䂦 600 rpm
3060

Immersing time t (min)Immersing time t (min)Fig. 5. Relationship between weight loss ofcopper per unit surface area and immersion
time t in 7 kmol m-3 NH3 and 1 kmol m-3(NH4)2SO4 containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at
313 K.

Fig. 6. Relationship between weight loss ofcopper per unit surface area and immersion
time t in 7 kmol m-3 NH3 and 1 kmol m-3(NH4)2SO4 containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at
353 K.

㧙㧙4.2.

Dissolution of Cu in an Ammonia Solution Containing Ammonium Chloride

In order to optimize the NH3 concentration for leaching copper, copper plates were immersedand stirred in 1~6 kmol m-3 NH3 and 1 kmol m-3 NH4Cl containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at 313 K.
In stirring at 300 rpm, the leaching speed was fastest with 4 kmol m-3 NH3 (Fig. 7). Moreover, tooptimize the NH4Cl concentration, copper plates were immersed and stirred in 4 kmol m-3 NH3and 0~3 kmol m-3 NH4Cl containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at 313 K. In this case, the fastest
leaching speed at 300 rpm was obtained at approximately 1 kmol m-3 NH4Cl in Fig. 8.
These results suggest that concentrations of 4 kmol m-3 NH3 and 1 kmol m-3 NH4Cl

Leaching speed of copper per unit surface area(kg䊶m-2䊶h-1)

Leaching speed of copper per unit surface area(kg䊶m-2䊶h-1)

containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) are the most suitable for ammonia leaching of copper.

2102

4

6

Concentration of NH3 (kmol䊶m-3)

2

101

2

3

Concentration of NH4Cl (kmol䊶m-3)

Fig. 7. Relationship between leaching
speed of copper per unit surface area andNH3 concentration in 1 kmol m-3 NH4Cl
containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at 313 K.

Fig. 8. Relationship between leaching
speed of copper per unit surface area andNH4Cl concentration in 4 kmol m-3 NH3containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at 313 K.

Using these optimized concentrations, copper plates were immersed and stirred at 353 K.
This ammoniacal alkaline solution almost dissolved a copper plate after 8 min at 600 rpm in 㩷Fig. 9. Under these conditions, the weight loss of copper per unit surface area varied withimmersion time at 353 K in Fig. 10. The slope (leaching speed) was dependent on the stirring
speed, and was the highest observed of all in this study. A leaching speed of 3.98 kg m-2 h-1 wasobtained at 600 rpm, faster than the 1.65 kg m-2 h-1 obtained at 600 rpm in 7 kmol m-3 NH3 and 1
kmol m-3 (NH4)2SO4 containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at 353 K.
In consideration of these results, an ammonia solution containing ammonium chloride isbetter than an ammonia solution containing ammonium sulfate for the selective separation ofcopper from ferrous scrap by ammonia leaching.

㧙㧙Finally, we investigated potential selective separation of copper from ferrous scrap using theammonia leaching process. Both copper and iron plates were immersed and stirred in solutions
at the optimal concentrations of 4 kmol m-3 NH3 and 1 kmol m-3 NH4Cl containing 0.5 kmol m-3Cu(II) at 353 K. The variation of leaching ratio with immersed time is shown in Fig. 11. The
leaching ratio of copper reached 100 % after 12 min at 300 rpm. In contrast, the iron plate
hardly dissolved in the ammoniacal alkaline solution. These results suggest that it is possible toachieve selective separation of copper and iron using the ammonia leaching process.
Weight loss of copper per unit surface area(kg䊶m-2)

0.5

Leachingpercent(%)
ratio (%)
Leaching

10050

䂾 100 rpm
䂔 300 rpm
䂦 600 rpm
0015105

䂾 100 rpm
䂔 300 rpm
䂦 600 rpm
5Fig. 9. Relationship between leaching
percent and immersion time t in 4 kmol m-3
NH3 and 1 kmol m-3 NH4Cl containing 0.5kmol m-3 Cu(II) at 353 K.

Leachingpercent(%)
Leaching
ratio (%)

15Immersing time t (min)Immersing time t (min)10010Fig. 10. Relationship between weightloss of copper per unit surface area
and immersion time t in 4 kmol m-3
NH3 and 1 kmol m-3 NH4Cl containing
0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at 353 K.

Cu 䂥Fe 䂦

5002810 1246Immersing time t (min)14Fig. 11. Relationship between leaching percent and immersion time t in 4 kmol m-3 NH3
and 1 kmol m-3 NH4Cl containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II) at 353 K and 300 rpm.

㧙㧙5.

Conclusions
The dissolution of copper in an ammonia solution containing ammonium chloride or sulfate

has been examined. The results obtained are summarized as follows:(1) At 313 K in a solution of 7 kmol m-3 NH3 and 1 kmol m-3 (NH4)2SO4 containing 0.5 kmol
m-3 Cu(II) a copper plate completely dissolved after stirring for 120 min at 100 rpm, 60 min
at 300 rpm, and 40 min at 600 rpm. The leaching percent of copper increased with stirring
speed. The weight loss at 600 rpm was three-times as much as that at 0 rpm. Moreover, theline slopes (indicating leaching speed) were steeper at increased stirring speeds. The
leaching speed at 600 rpm was calculated to be 0.80 kg m-2 h-1.
(2) The leaching percent at 600 rpm and 353 K reached 100 % after 20 min in 7 kmol m-3 NH3
and 1 kmol m-3 (NH4)2SO4 containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II). The slopes (leaching speed) were
found to be steeper than those at 313 K. The leaching speed at 600 rpm was estimated to be1.65 kg m-2 h-1 at 353 K.
(3) Optimum solution concentrations at 313 K for ammonia leaching of copper were 4 kmol m-3
NH3 and 1 kmol m-3 NH4Cl containing 0.5 kmol m-3 Cu(II).
(4) At 353 K, under the optimum concentrations stated in (3), the ammoniacal alkaline solution
almost dissolved a copper plate after 8 min at 600 rpm. In this case, the leaching speed at
600 rpm was estimated to be 3.98 kg m-2 h-1.
(5) The leaching percents of copper and iron plates were estimated to be 100 and 0 %,respectively, after 12 min under the optimum concentrations stated in (3) at 300 rpm and353 K.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Financial support from JFE 21st Century Foundation is gratefully appreciated.
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