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Electrochemical removal of copper ions from very dilute solutions

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Abstract

A device for concentrating electropositive cations using porous, fixed, flow-through, carbon electrodes is described. A feed of 667μg of copper per ml of solution was reduced to less than 1μg of copper per ml of solution. The flow rate was 0.20 cm3/cm2/min through a bed 6 cm thick. Capital cost for the cell is the controlling factor. A preliminary economic analysis indicates that the value of copper recovered will more than pay for the installation and operation of the cell, even for fairly small units.

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Abbreviations

a :

area per unit volume, cm−1

c o :

copper concentration of feed, mol/cm3

c b :

averaged, bulk copper concentration within porous cathode, mol/cm3

c Lb :

copper concentration in cathode effluent, mol/cm3

D :

diffusion coefficient of copper ions, cm2/s

F :

Faradayś constant, 96,487 coul/equiv

i 2 :

superficial or overall electrical current density in catholyte solution, A/cm2

i T :

total, overall current density to cathode, A/cm2

I :

total current, mA

k m :

mass transfer coefficient, cm/s

L :

thickness of the cathode, cm

n :

number of electrons transferred in electrode reaction, 2

Sc :

Schmidt numberμ/ρD, dimensionless

t :

time to plug cathode with copper, s

v :

superficial or approach velocity of catholyte solution, cm/s

VDP:

potential of saturated calomel reference electrode in catholyte effluent relative to the cathode, V

VA:

potential of anode relative to cathode, V

y :

distance from entrance of cathode toward cathode backing plate, cm

α :

ak m/v, cm−1

β :

nFv 2 c o/ak m K, V

ɛ :

void fraction, dimensionless

k :

effective or superficial electrical conductivity of catholyte, mho/cm

k°:

electrical conductivity of feed solution, mho/cm

μ :

viscosity of feed solution, g/cm-s

ρ :

density of feed solution, g/cm3

Φ 2 :

potential in the solution, V

Ψ :

particle shape factor, 0.86 for flakes, dimensionless

References

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Bennion, D.N., Newman, J. Electrochemical removal of copper ions from very dilute solutions. J Appl Electrochem 2, 113–122 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00609127

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00609127

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