Optimizing operating conditions in an ion-exchange column treatment applied to the removal of Sb and Bi impurities from an electrolyte of a copper electro-refining plant

Torralvo, Fátima Arroyo; Rodríguez-Almansa, A.; Ruiz, Irene; González, Israel; Ríos, Guillermo; Fernández‐Pereira, Constantino; Arenas, Luis Francisco Vilches

doi:10.1016/j.hydromet.2017.06.009

Cited by 35 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) was promoted, as the average Fe(III) concentration decreased from 0.08 to 0.05 g L −1 , with a corresponding increase in Fe(II) concentration from 0.90 to 0.93 g L −1 . This indicates that the poisoning of the column due to Fe(III) contamination was prevented by the pre-treatment with Cu shavings [23]. The reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) due to the oxidation of Cu shaving to Cu 2+ ions which are transferred into the electrolyte, can be explained considering the higher redox potential of Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ (E 0 = 0.77 V) compared to the redox potential of Cu/Cu 2+ (E 0 = 0.34 V) [34].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…The previous laboratory-scale operation to remove Sb and Bi from the copper electrolyte was described by F. Arroyo-Torralvo et al (2017) [23]. The experimental configuration is a two-step process in which the electrolyte is pumped through two columns in series.…”

Section: Laboratory-scale and Industrial Sb/bi Removal Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The laboratory-scale plant allowed the calculation of ion exchange resin capacity and the evaluation of operating protocol (load-elution-regeneration) [23]. It was used as a model for the design of the industrial Sb/Bi removal plant.…”

Section: Laboratory-scale and Industrial Sb/bi Removal Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The overall time of the process (loading of the electrolyte and posterior regeneration stage of the resin) was adjusted to a working day (8-12 h). Additionally, the removal efficiency of bismuth from the electrolyte with this resin has been estimated at 75% [23]. Table 1 shows the average concentration of antimony and iron species in the initial electrolyte, the electrolyte treated only with copper shavings, and the electrolyte treated both with copper shavings and the ion exchange resin.…”

Section: Analytical Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other techniques have been proposed to control antimony concentrations in copper electrolytes, including precipitation [15], adsorption [16,17] and ion exchange [18]. Ion exchange resins are used in several copper refineries [19,20] to remove Sb and Bi and maintain their concentrations below 0.50 g L −1 in commercial electrolytes [21,22], although the concentrations of these elements can increase due to the high impurities content in copper anodes [23]. The resins employed are usually chelating, a subgroup of ion exchange resins with coordination compounds that can establish selective covalent-like bonds between the central ion of the functional group of the resin and donor ions in solution [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Removal of Sb Impurities in Copper Electrolyte and Evaluation of As and Fe Species in an Electrorefining Plant

Torres

Moats

Ríos

et al. 2021

Metals

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Antimony and arsenic concentrations and their oxidation states (Sb(III), Sb(V), As(III) and As(V)) in copper electrorefining electrolyte can affect copper cathode quality through the formation of floating slimes. A laboratory-scale pilot plant was operated to remove Sb from commercial electrolyte. The pilot plant consisted of a pre-treatment process with copper shavings followed by ion exchange. The results indicated that Sb(III) was removed from copper electrolyte completely, while Sb(V) was partially eliminated. The concentrations of As(III) and As(V) were not affected, and the poisoning of the ion exchange resin by Fe(III) was avoided by pre-reduction to Fe(II) by copper shavings. The operation configuration of the pilot plant was applied to the design of an industrial plant for Sb/Bi removal at the Atlantic Copper Refinery in Huelva, Spain. The evolution of Sb, Fe and As species in the commercial electrolyte was monitored prior to and after the installation of the Sb/Bi removal plant. The results show a ca. 45% decrease in total Sb content (from 0.29 g L−1 to 0.16 g L−1) in the electrolyte. This reduction is more noticeable for Sb(III), whose concentration decreased from 0.18 g L−1 to 0.09 g L−1, whereas Sb(V) concentration diminished from 0.11 g L−1 to 0.07 g L−1. The resin also retained ca. 75% of the Bi content (0.15–0.22 g L−1). The total As increased during the study period (from 7.7 to 9.0 g L−1) due to changes in plant inputs. Arsenic was predominantly As(V) (ca. 93–95%). The total Fe concentration experienced little variation (0.9–1.1 g L−1) with Fe(II) being the main species (ca. 94–96%).

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Laboratory-scale and Industrial Sb/bi Removal Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Laboratory-scale and Industrial Sb/bi Removal Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analytical Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%