Copper recovery from industrial wastewater - Synergistic electrodeposition onto nanocarbon materials

In this study, copper present in industrial waste water with a variety of other impurities (Fe, Mg, Al, Zn, As) was subjected for selective electrochemical recovery. The recovery was conducted directly on carbon nanostructures in order to create added-value products synergistically. In-depth electrochemical and structural analysis showed that single/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene composites could provide an excellent substrate for Cu's electrochemical recovery. Furthermore, formulations based on them also enabled the formation of even Cu deposits on the surface directly from wastewater solutions without further bath condition adjustments. After just 1-h electrodeposition at −0.1V vs. SCE, a nanocomposite based on CNTs was obtained. Cu was recovered exclusively and accounted for 45% of the total weight of the composite.