Electrolytic copper deposition from ammoniacal alkaline solution containing Cu(I)

Abstract

In order to verify the feasibility of copper electrodeposition from ammoniacal alkaline solutions containing Cu(I), the cathodic polarization characteristics of Cu(I) and the galvanostatic electrodeposition from a Cu(I) solution were investigated. The cathodic polarization curve for the 0.5 kmol m -3 Cu(I)-5 kmol m -3 NH 3-1 kmol m -3 (NH 4) 2SO 4 solution showed an increase in the electric current corresponding to the deposition of copper at around -0.22 V vs. SHE which is much higher than the potential for hydrogen evolution. The current efficiencies for the copper electrodeposition from the Cu(I) solution nominally without Cu(II) were greater than 95% in the current density range of 200 to 1000 A m -2. A further increase in the current density resulted in a decreased current efficiency due to the hydrogen evolution. The current efficiency decreased with the increasing Cu(II) concentration and temperature. These results indicate that the present copper electrodeposition method is applicable for the new energy-saving hydrometallurgical recycling process. © 2006 The Mining and Materials Processing Institute of Japan.