ECO-FRIENDLY RECOVERY OF COPPER FROM WASTEWATER BY CEMENTATION.

Cementation is one of the most effective, eco-friendly and economically advantageous techniques for removal of valuable and / or toxic metals from industrial wastewaters. Copper is among the most prevalent and valuable metal used in industry. The present study investigates an eco-friendly recovery method for the copper ions present in synthetic wastewater, by cementation, using scrap iron and no energy consumption. It was evaluated the impact on copper cementation yield, caused by the fallowing parameters: (a) initial copper concentrations, (b) pH values and (c) contact time. Experiments were carried out at room temperature and without energy consumption or stirring. The data indicated high cementation yields (76.5 - 95.6%) after a contact time of three days in the case of diluted solutions (0.5% and 1%), and high cementation yields (81.2 - 88.4%) after a contact time of one day in the case of concentrate solutions (3%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]