Chapter 18 - Collection and Processing of Recycled Copper

Abstract

This chapter describes production of secondary copper—recovery of copper from scrap. It emphasizes the scrap recycling in general, major sources and types of scrap, and physical beneficiation techniques for isolating copper from its coatings and other contaminants. The purest copper scrap is simply re-melted and recast in preparation for manufacture and use. Less pure copper scrap is re-smelted and re-refined. Alloy scrap is usually recycled directly to make new alloy. Considerable scrap must be physically treated to isolate its copper from its other components. An important example of this is recovery of copper from wire and cable. It is done by: chopping the wire and cable into small pieces to liberate its copper; physically isolating its copper by means of a specific gravity separation (air table). Copper recovery from used automobiles and electronic devices follows a similar pattern, i.e.: Liberation by size reduction (shredding); isolation of copper by magnetic, specific gravity, and eddy-current separation. The copper from these processes is then re-smelted and re-refined. Old (obsolete) scrap is often discarded in landfills. There is, however, an increasing tendency to recycle this material due mainly to the increased cost and decreased availability of landfill sites.