title: Removal of copper in leachate from mining residues using electrochemical technology.
abstract: This research is related to a laboratory study on the performance of a successive mining residues leaching and electrochemical copper recovery process. To clearly define the experimental region for response surface methodology (RSM), a preliminary study was performed by applying a current intensity varying from 0.5 A to 4.0 A for 60 min. By decreasing the current intensity from 4.0 A to 0.5 A, a good adhesion and a very smooth and continuous interface of copper was formed and deposited on the cathode electrode. However, the removal rate of Cu decreased from 83.7% to 37.9% when the current intensity passed from 4.0 A to 0.5 A, respectively. Subsequently, the factorial design and central composite design methodologies were successively employed to define the optimal operating conditions for copper removal in the mining residues leachate. Using a 2(3) factorial matrix, the best performance for copper removal (97.7%) was obtained at a current intensity of 2.0 A during 100 min. The current intensity and electrolysis time were found to be the most influent parameters. The contribution of current intensity and electrolysis time was around 65.8% and 33.9%, respectively. The treatment using copper electrode and current intensity of 1.3 A during 80 min was found to be the optimal conditions in terms of cost/effectiveness. Under these conditions, 86% of copper can be recovered for a total cost of 0.56 $ per cubic meter of treated mining residues leachate.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS - Eau Terre et Environnement), Université du Québec, 490 rue de la Couronne, C.P. 7500, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada G1X 9A9. Electronic address: lambert.andrea@ete.inrs.ca.
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS - Eau Terre et Environnement), Université du Quebec, 490 rue de la Couronne, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada G1K 9A9. Electronic address: patrick.drogui@ete.inrs.ca.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drogui
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS - Eau Terre et Environnement), Université du Québec, 490 rue de la Couronne, C.P. 7500, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada G1X 9A9. Electronic address: rimeh.daghrir@ete.inrs.ca.
authors.forename: Rimeh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Daghrir
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS - Eau Terre et Environnement), Université du Québec, 490 rue de la Couronne, C.P. 7500, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada G1X 9A9. Electronic address: francois.zaviska@ete.inrs.ca.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaviska
authors.affiliation: Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445, boul. Rouyn-Noranda (QC), Québec, QC, Canada. Electronic address: Mostafa.Benzaazoua@uqat.ca.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benzaazoua
mesh_terms: D004572:Electrolysis / Q000379:methods*; D008906:Mining; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Copper; Electrochemical deposition process; Mining residues leachate; Response surface methodology