Copper Cementation with Zinc Recovered from Spent Zinc–Carbon Batteries and Dissolution of Cement Copper in Hydrochloric Acid Solutions

Abstract

In this study, the usability of waste zinc obtained from spent zinc–carbon batteries for copper cementation was examined. The effects of the initial concentration of copper ions, rotation speed of the zinc plate, initial pH of solution, and reaction temperature on copper cementation were investigated. It was determined that the cementation rate increased with increasing concentration of copper ions, rotation speed, reaction temperature, and initial pH of solution. It was found that the cementation reaction followed first-order kinetics and was controlled by diffusion. Copper powder produced by cementation was characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The dissolution of cement copper in hydrochloric acid solution was determined for the purpose of the production of copper(II) oxychloride. The effects of acid concentration, temperature, and stirring speed on the dissolution of cement copper were investigated. It was observed that the dissolution of copper powder increased with an increase in acid concentration, stirring speed, and temperature.