Copper recovery from spent etchant cupric chloride solution by electro winning method

Abstract EN

Recovery of copper from actual spent etchant cupric chloride solution used in manufacturing of printed circuit board (PCB) containing 124 g / l Cu+2 ions concentration and 60 g/l hydrochloric acid was investigated in a batch mode jacketed tank.

This tank was constructed with inner dimensions of 19 × 10 × 15 cm3.

Cylindrical rode-shape titanium was used as cathode, while two rectangular shaped graphite were used as anodes.

The parameters studied were: current density (0.16-0.30 A / cm2), copper concentration in etchant solution (30-124 g / l) and the temperature (25-45o C).

The highest current efficiency obtained was about 92 % and the lowest power consumption achieved was about 2.7 W.h / g within the temperature range 25-35o C.