Intensified recovery of copper in solution: Cementation onto iron in fixed or fluidized bed under electromagnetic field

• Published in: Chemical engineering and processing 2008-03, Vol.47 (3), p.295-302
• Main Authors: Gros, F., Baup, S., Aurousseau, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cementation; Chemical and Process Engineering; Chemical engineering; Chemical Sciences; Copper; Electromagnetism; Engineering Sciences; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fluidization; Heat and mass transfer. Packings, plates; Hydrodynamics of contact apparatus; Mass transfer; Reactors
• ISSN: 0255-2701; 1873-3204
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cep.2007.01.002

This work deals with the cementation of copper ions onto iron shots, within a fixed bed or fluidized bed, associated with an electromagnetic field. The influence of several parameters is studied: flowrate (5–45 L min −1 corresponding to a 1.4 × 10 −2 to 1.3 × 10 −1 m s −1 superficial velocity), temperature (20–40 °C), initial concentration of Cu(II) (50–10,000 ppm), pH (1.5–4.5), bed height (20–45 cm). Moreover, the influence of a movable and alternated electromagnetic field is also investigated. Cementation results and the hydrodynamic characterization of the reactor have been coupled through a process modeling in order to determine apparent mass transfer coefficients. These coefficients (ranging from 2.2 × 10 −5 to 2.3 × 10 −4 m s −1) are used as a comparison criterion to quantify the influence of each operating parameters. This work points out an enhancement of copper recovery when the electromagnetic field leads to a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSFB).