METHOD FOR RECOVERING COPPER FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTE SLUDGE

Abstract

ABSTRACT A method 100 for recovering copper from industrial waste sludge, the method 100 comprising the steps of preparing the sludge by drying and crushing, leaching the prepared sludge with sulphuric acid to form a copper sulphate solution, filtering the leached solution to remove impurities and electro-winning copper from the filtered solution, wherein the copper is deposited on the cathode.

Specification

Description:FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] This invention generally relates to a field of metallurgical processes, specifically to methods for the recovery of copper from industrial waste sludge generated in brass processing and manufacturing facilities.
BACKGROUND

[0002] The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.
[0003] Industrial production processes, particularly in brass manufacturing, generate significant quantities of waste sludge containing valuable metals like copper and zinc. Conventional waste treatment techniques, such as cement s , Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A method 100 for recovering copper from industrial waste sludge, the method 100 comprising the steps of:
preparing the sludge by drying and crushing;
leaching the prepared sludge with sulphuric acid to form a copper sulphate solution;
filtering the leached solution to remove impurities; and
electro-winning copper from the filtered solution, wherein the copper is deposited on the cathode.

2. The method 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sludge is dried at approximately 75°C to remove moisture before crushing.

3. The method 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the copper sulphate solution undergoes electro-winning at a voltage of approximately 2.7 V and a current of 0.2 A for about 8 hours.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sludge contains copper and zinc as primary metals, enabling the recovery of copper as a reusable metal.

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