Scientists of Uralmekhanobr JSC have developed a complex technology for processing metal waste of non-ferrous metals (copper, lead, tin, antimony, precious metals) - waste printed circuit boards.
Classic processing of this type of raw material is based on the smelting of blister copper , its fire refining followed by casting of anodes, which are further processed by electrorefining to obtain commercial cathode copper and concentrate of precious metals.
The high content of tin and lead in the feedstock (up to 20%) significantly complicates the processing of waste printed circuit boards at the stage of fire refining and subsequently slows down the anodic dissolution up to its complete termination.
The developments of the specialists of the Uralmekhanobr Institute allow to significantly simplify this process, eliminating the operations of fire and anode refining, as well as the casting of anodes. p>
As a result of the research carried out, the employees of the hydrometallurgy laboratory of Uralmeha nobr ”developed a technology for processing metal waste of non-ferrous metals, based on the conversion of copper into a solution of sulfuric acid from the original alloy or from the product of its primary smelting (black copper). The transfer of copper into solution is carried out through the use of an environmentally friendly oxidizing reagent. The resulting solution is suitable for copper extraction by electroextraction.
Note also that in the course of research in the laboratory, cathode copper was obtained that meets the chemical composition requirements for cathode copper grades M0k, M1k and M2k.
