Studies on the copper extraction in a channel-based packed extraction device

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the effect of copper ion concentration in the solution, extractant concentration in the solvent, solution pH, mixture velocity of the phases and temperature on copper extraction from a copper-laden solution. Copper is separated from a mixture of copper, nickel and cadmium solution as hydroxide by changing the pH of the solution. Copper is then extracted from the aqueous phase to the organic phase using a commercially available extractant D2EHPA [Bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate] dissolved in the organic phase (benzene). The effect of pH and the other parameters on the stripping process of copper from the organic phase to the acidic aqueous phase has also been studied introducing a rectangular serpentine packed millichannel as a novel extracting device. The performance study of the packed and unpacked serpentine channel reveals that extraction efficiency of the packed channel is higher (85–99%) than the unpacked channel (80–91%). The equilibrium constant for the copper extraction by D2EHPA has also been incorporated in the study. The present work will be helpful for further understanding about the separation and extraction of copper from a mixture of metal ions solution and also be useful for the development of the channel based extracting devices.