Copper is a transition metal with an atomic number of 29. It is soft, malleable and ductile and has very high thermal and electrical conductivity.
Applications
Copper is the oldest metal used by man and has been mined for thousands of years. It is a strong, conductive metal with corrosion resistance, and it is used in a variety of applications, including electronics, construction and consumer goods. Copper conducts heat and electricity and is often used in wiring and motors. It is also used in construction for roofing, gutters, rainspouts, and plumbing and is also used to make coins and cookware.
Challenges
Low concentrations of copper are often present in cobalt and nickel electrolyte liquor, decreasing the purity of the final cobalt or nickel metal. Another application involves the recovery of copper from low-grade streams, thereby increasing revenue.
Solutions
Ion exchange resins can be used to target copper in various applications.
Removal from Cobalt and Nickel Solutions
Copper is a common impurity found in the electrowinning process for cobalt and nickel liquors. Its presence negatively affects the process's efficiency, ultimately leading to a decline in the purity of the final metals.
Electrowinning is a process used to extract metal ions from their ores after mining them from the earth. Impurities must be removed from these cobalt and nickel streams to ensure the quality and value of the copper ions.
The Purolite™ Puromet™ MTS9500 has excellent selectivity for copper over nickel and cobalt and can be used to remove copper to low levels from the electrolyte liquor, prior to production of cobalt and nickel metal.
Bulk Recovery
Copper may be recovered in bulk using a special chelating resin with imino-diacetic acid functionality.
Purolite Puromet MTS9300 is suitable for use in clarified liquors. For copper extraction directly from leached pulps,
Purolite Puromet MTS9301 is recommended, as it has superior mechanical strength and a special particle size tailored for resin-in-pulp (RIP) operations.
For more information, visit
Hydrometallurgy Products.
