Static-bed electrolysis for production of copper powder from copper cables scrap

This paper aims to experimentally investigate the different parameters affecting the production of electrolytic copper powder from copper cables scrap anode particles using a static-bed electrolysis technique. This technique depends mainly on cutting the longest cables manually and putting them in a metal basket made from titanium. Two cathodes made of stainless steel sheets with the anode basket were submerged in an acidic solution containing H2SO4 and copper sulphate with an organic agent. The effect of different parameters on the electrolysis process such as electrolyte temperature, stirring rate, current density, copper ions in the electrolyte, sulphuric acid, adding polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and the use of an old electrolyte were studied and evaluated. Electrolytic copper powder was obtained in dentritic and dispersed shapes with purity up to 99.938% Cu and apparent density from 1.544 to 4.080 g/cm3. The electrolysis process was accomplished with cathodic current efficiency to 100%, specific energy demand between 1.184 and 2.960 kWh/kg Cu and powder productivity of 1.188g/Ah.
This paper aims to experimentally investigate the different parameters affecting the production of electrolytic copper powder from copper cables scrap anode particles using a static-bed electrolysis technique. This technique depends mainly on cutting the longest cables manually and putting them in a metal basket made from titanium. Two cathodes made of stainless steel sheets with the anode basket were submerged in an acidic solution containing H2SO4 and copper sulphate with an organic agent. The effect of different parameters on the electrolysis process such as electrolyte temperature, stirring rate, current density, copper ions in the electrolyte, sulphuric acid, adding polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and the use of an old electrolyte were studied and evaluated. Electrolytic copper powder was obtained in dentritic and dispersed shapes with purity up to 99.938% Cu and apparent density from 1.544 to 4.080 g/cm3. The electrolysis process was accomplished with cathodic current efficiency to 100%, specific energy demand between 1.184 and 2.960 kWh/kg Cu and powder productivity of 1.188g/Ah.