Evaluación del proceso de producción de oxicloruro de cobre a partir de cobre reciclado a escalas laboratorio y piloto

Abstract

In this work the production of copper oxychloride (CuCl2.3Cu(OH)2) from recycled copper was evaluated in laboratory and pilot scale. CuCl2.3Cu(OH)2 was produced by oxidant leaching in hydrochloric acid (HCl) and neutralization. At laboratory scale, both air and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were used as oxidants. Copper recovery of 85,6 % was obtained with 4,8 % H2O2. HCl concentration was also varied between 140, 185 and 230 g/L, and a copper recovery of 83,29 % was obtained with 140 g/L. Furthermore, solids percentage was varied between 9, 13 and 17 %. The selected concentration was 9%. The time required for the leaching of 83% of the copper was 8 hours. For the precipitation of CuCl2.3Cu(OH)2, both sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) was used; NaOH was selected as neutralizing agent with a resulting product of 82 % of purity before washing and 100 % purity after washing. The experiment was replicated at pilot level, so the resulting product had 70 % of purity before washing and 97 % later. Finally, the technical-economic pre-feasibility of a CuCl2.3Cu(OH)2 plant from recycled copper was evaluated for two different capacities: 1 and 3 t/month.