Anodic dissolution of Cu-Zn-Ni alloy scraps in copper(ii) sulphate solution

Abstract

In this work, the anodic dissolution properties of Cu-Zn-Ni alloy scraps in 45 g L-1 CuSO4 solutions have been analyzed. The analysis methods employed were potentiodynamic polarization techniques, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electron probe microscopic analysis. In a certain range, the anodic dissolution of the Cu-Zn-Ni alloy scraps in CuSO4 solutions increased with the H2SO4 concentration and temperature. The overall dissolution of the Cu-Zn-Ni alloy scraps were found to be under anodic control; further, the anodic dissolution process was under diffusion control deduced from the activation energy of the anode dissolution process being 14.6 kJ mol-1. After heat treating the alloy scraps, the Cu-Zn-Ni alloy scraps were found to be more susceptible to dissolution due to the increase of the size of the grains and the decrease of the particle size uniformity.