The influence of different parameters (solid-liquid ratio, initial pH, initial Cu concentration and
anion type) on the cementation of aqueous Cu with nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) has been
studied. The work has been established in order to study both the influence such parameters
have on the kinetics and efficacy of the cementation ...
The influence of different parameters (solid-liquid ratio, initial pH, initial Cu concentration and
anion type) on the cementation of aqueous Cu with nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) has been
studied. The work has been established in order to study both the influence such parameters
have on the kinetics and efficacy of the cementation process but also the physicochemical
composition of resultant Cu-bearing products. The nZVI exhibited high Cu removal capacity
(maximum removal 905.2 mg/g) due to its high surface area. XRD determined the most
common Cu bearing precipitates were Cu2O, CuCl2 and Cu2(OH)3Cl for solutions containing
Cl- counterions (CuCl2 salt precursor) whilst Cu0 and Cu2O were the most common phases for
those containing SO4
2- counterions (CuSO4 salt precursor). HRTEM determined such
precipitates were discrete nanoparticles of relatively high purity Cu (e.g. >80 wt.% Cu or ≥99.9
wt.% Cu and O). Overall the results demonstrate nZVI as effective for the one-pot
transformation of aqueous Cu into a range of different high purity Cu-bearing nanoparticles.
The methodology developed herein is therefore likely to have important application in the
recovery of Cu from wastewater and process solutions where the direct upcycling to highvalue Cu-bearing nanoparticles is an advantageous form in which to recover Cu.