A ferric chloride hydrometallurgical process for recovery of silver from electronic scrap materials

Abstract

A hydrometallurgical method for the recovery of silver from electronic scrap materials is suggested. Electronic scrap materials, containing silver with the accompanying brass and beryllium bronze, are leached at 80°C with ferric chloride. The leaching should be carried out with the concentration of ferric chloride and phase ratio chosen so that in the final phase of leaching the concentration ratio of Fe(III) to Fe(II) is not lower than 1. Under such conditions silver is found to be only slightly solubilized. This was confirmed by electrochemical studies. Potentiodynamic studies of the behaviour of silver in hydrochloric acid demonstrated that at the electrode potential value of 0.77 V, corresponding to the redox potential at 25°C of the solution where the concentration ratio [Fe(III)]/[Fe(II)] = 1, the silver surface is passivated not only by silver chloride but also by silver oxide. This prevents solubilization of silver in chloride solutions owing to the formation of AgCl 2 − and AgCl 3 2− complexes. The lowering of the solution oxidation potential resulting from consumption of Fe 3+ ions during the leaching process causes a sudden increase in silver concentration in solution.