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Electrochemical Codeposition of Arsenic from Acidic Copper Sulfate Baths: The Implications for Sustainable Copper Electrometallurgy
Minerals Engineering
  • Florian Verbruggen
  • Pieter Ostermeyer
  • Luiza Bonin
  • Antonin Prévoteau
  • Kristof Marcoen
  • Tom Hauffman
  • Tom Hennebel
  • Korneel Rabaey
  • Michael S. Moats, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Abstract

Copper producers face increased demand associated with increasing complexity in feedstock composition, including high amounts of impurity metals. In this work, linear sweep voltammetry was used to study the electrodeposition behavior of copper and arsenic, define strategies for the production of grade A copper, and the removal of arsenic from complex electrolytes. Our results show that the copper concentration is a key parameter to control in the electrodeposition process. The continuous deposition of arsenic from the electrolyte requires copper in solution ( ≤ 10 g L-1 Cu(II) for 2 g L-1 As(III)) to form copper arsenides. The deposition of metallic arsenic does not occur readily. Conversely, the use of a concentrated Cu(II) solution (e.g. 40 g L-1) resulted in grade A copper from an electrolyte with a maximum of 2 g L-1 As(III) under galvanostatic control at a current density of - 42 mA cm-2. Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry depth profile measurements on copper deposits revealed that arsenic contamination was entirely concentrated near the substrate side of the deposit and progressively decreased further into the deposit. The codeposition of arsenic occurred along with the initial copper nucleation, when the electrochemical potential for electrodepostion under galvanostatic control is temporarily lower. These findings provide important insights for future sustainable copper electrodeposition technologies from complex feedstocks.

Department(s)
Materials Science and Engineering
Comments
Agentschap Innoveren en Ondernemen, Grant HBC.217.000
Keywords and Phrases
  • Arsenic,
  • Circular economy,
  • Copper,
  • Electrorefining,
  • Electrowinning
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2022 Elsevier, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
1-1-2022
Publication Date
01 Jan 2022
Citation Information
Florian Verbruggen, Pieter Ostermeyer, Luiza Bonin, Antonin Prévoteau, et al.. "Electrochemical Codeposition of Arsenic from Acidic Copper Sulfate Baths: The Implications for Sustainable Copper Electrometallurgy" Minerals Engineering Vol. 176 (2022) ISSN: 0892-6875
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/michael-moats/76/