A Green Process for Copper Recovery from Waste Printed Circuit Boards

Abstract:

In the present study, a green process for cuprous chloride synthesis from waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) was developed. High value-added cuprous chloride (98.7% purity) was obtained by treating metallic particles of waste PCBs with solution of cupric sulfate and sodium chloride. Typical noble metal (Pd) was dissolved by forming a stable chloride complex during the synthesis process as Cu²⁺ played the role of oxidant or concentrated in the residue. Under the optimum condition (V_NaCl/m_CuSO4 ratio = 6, [C/[Cu²⁺] mole ratio = 1.05, treatment time = 30 min, operation temperature = 60 °C), yield of cuprous chloride was 74.0% and approximately 98.5% of the copper could be recovered. It is believed that the process proposed is effective and practical for Cu recovery from waste PCBs.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 878)
• Pages: 374-379
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.878.374
• Online since: January 2014
• Authors: Zhi Yuan Zhang, Fu Shen Zhang
• Keywords: Copper, Cuprous Chloride, Pd, Precious Metal, Waste PCBs

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