Sorption recovery of copper(II) and zinc(II) from aqueous chloride solutions

Abstract

The present investigation was devoted to the simultaneous sorption recovery of copper(II) and zinc(II) ions on some commercial anion exchangers with different physico-chemical properties. The initial concentrations of zinc and copper were 1-3 mmol L-1 and the recovery was performed in 0.01 and 2 M hydrochloric acid solutions. It was shown that the investigated anion exchangers possess good sorption and kinetic properties. After the recovery of copper and zinc from the strongly acidic solutions, their selective elution was realized by means of 2 M hydrochloric acid solution (zinc recovery) and 2 M ammonia solution (copper recovery). In the weakly acidic solutions, copper and zinc were separated during sorption, as zinc sorption did not proceed in this case. The subsequent copper(II) elution was performed using 2 M ammonia solution. The anion exchangers Purolite S985, Purolite A500 and AM-2B could be recommended for zinc and copper recovery from acidic industrial solutions and wastewater. © 2014 SCS.