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FoFF r HyH dyy rdd orr metatt llll urgrr icii al PrPP orr cesses
Recover Acid and Valuable Byproducts
while Controlling Impurities
Copper ElectrolytePurification SystemsCopper ElectrolytePurification Systems
ProblemControlling the level of impurities is essential to theefficient production of high purity copper inelectrorefining and electrowinning operations. Thecontaminants that are problematic can differdepending upon the composition of the feedstock.
Typical contaminants found in electro-refining andelectrowining operations are:
• Nickel• Bismuth/A// ntimony• Arsenic• Selenium• Tellurium
The standard procedure is to continuously orperiodically bleed off decopperized electrolyte inorder to maintain contaminants at anacceptable level. While this solves the contaminantproblem, significant quantities of valuable chemicalsare lost. In some cases, highly acidic waste spentelectrolyte must be neutralized with caustic or lime,resulting in large quantities of waste sludge whichmust be disposed.
SolutionEco-Tec Electrolyte Purification Systems cater to eachcontaminant problem. The Electrolyte PurificationSystems include:
• NiRS- Nickel Removal System• BARS- Bismuth/A// ntimony Removal System• ARS- Arsenic Removal System• SeRS – Selenium Removal System• TeRS- Tellurium Removal System.
These systems remove the contaminants present in theelectrolyte bleed in order to recycle the electrolyte. Insome cases, the contaminant can be converted into avaluable by-product.
The benefits resulting from Eco-Tec’s ElectrolytePurification Systems are:
• Increased electrolyte purity (lower contaminant level)• Higher cathode purity• Increased electrolytic process efficiency (lowervoltage/higher current efficiency)
• Reduced sulfuric acid purchases• Reduced lime purchases• Reduced waste treatment costs• Revenue from sale of valuable byproducts
Copper Electrolyte Purification Systems
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CCopper TaTT nk HouseCCopper TaTT nk House
Bleed Stream to
Liberator CellsBleed Stream to
Liberator Cells
AAcid and CContaminants
for WaWW ste TreatmentEco-TeTT c
Electrolyte
Purification
Systems
WaWW ter
Liberator CCell
Purified
Electrolyte
Eco-Tec Electrolyte Puri�ication Systems continu-ously recycle puri�ied electrolyte and allow econom-ical production of saleable byproducts.
Typical Copper Electrolyte Treatment forcontaminant removal
Typical Performance
EquipmentThTT e NiNN cii kekk l Removavv l SyS syy tett m uses statt ndadd rdrrprorr cess equipii ment whww icii h has beensuccessfuff llll yl inii statt llll ell d and opo erarr tett d iniihyh dyy rdd orr metatt llll urgrr icii al plall ntstt woww rlrr dll wiww dii edd . ThTT isiiphotott showsww a SpS ectrtt urr m MiMM cii rorr Medidd aii FiFF lii tett r(A) and a NiNN cii kekk l Removavv l UnUU it (B)B feff aturirr nii g aprorr po rirr eii tatt ryr Recoflff oll ® rerr sinii column. ThTT eequipii ment aloll ng wiww thtt rerr lall tett d tatt nkskk , pipii inii g andcontrtt orr lsll arerr manufaff cturerr d and tett stett d iniiEcEE o-TeTT c’s’ faff ctott ryr ,yy skikk dii -mountett d and shipii ppp edtott sitett foff r easys inii statt llll all titt oii n and commisii sioii ninii g.
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Electrolyte from the copper liberator cells isdirected to the Spectrum Micro Media Filter toremove suspended solids by an automated,backwashable filter with a permanentmedia.The filtered solution then flowsthrough a Nickel Removal Unit whichconsists of a proprietary ionexchange resin column where theelectrolyte solution (sulfuric acid) isremoved by the resin. A deacidifiedmetal salt stream flows to a treatmenttank where chemical reagent isadded to precipitate nickel (and othermetals) salts. The metal salts aredewatered and washed to produce asaleable byproduct.In some cases it is beneficial toelectrowin the nickel from thedeacidified stream to produce nickelmetal rather than nickel salts.
Nickel Removal System (NiRS)
A
B
StreamH2SO4
(g/l)Ni
(g/l)Cu
(g/l)Relative Flow
Feed 275 15.00 5.00 1
Purified Electrolyte 233.75 4.50 1.50 1
Metal By-product 41.25 10.50 3.50 1
Water - - - 1
Loss/Removal 15% 70% 70% -
The Nickel Removal Unit is backwashed usingonly water to produce a purified electrolytestream for recycle to the copper tank house orleach circuit.
WaWW ter
From
Liberator
CellsSSpectrum
Micro
Media
Filter
Resin
Bed
For Filter
Backwash
Deacidiffied Metal
Salt Stream
Byproduct
Treatment
Filter
Backwash WaWW ste
Nickel Salts
Reagent
Nickel
Removal
Unit
Puriffied Electrolyte to TaTT nk House or Leach
Bismuth and antimony are often present in copper electrolytes. In certrr ain concentrations, along with arsenic, theyproduce slimes that may be beneficial for control of impurities in the copper. However, higher concentrations can beproblematic.
The Bismuth/A// ntimony Removal System (BARS) uses Recoflo®oo technology and a selective ion exchange resin forthe removal of bismuth and antimony. The resin is regenerated with salt (NaCl) and a small amount of hydrochloricacid (HCl). Recognizing that chlorides can be a contaminant for copper electrolytes, the system is designed toprevent cross-contamination of the electrolyte by the regenerant solution. Upon regeneration of the resin, thebismuth/a// ntimony chloride stream is treated to precipitate salts of bismuth and antimony.
If the quantity of antimony and bismuth is sufficient, it may be beneficial to incorporate an additional step to separatethe salts and realize higher value byproducts. Consult Eco-Tec for furtrr her details.
There are two configurations of BARS for a copper refinery.
opper Electrolyte Purification Systems
Bismuth / Antimony Removal System (BARS)
BARS-A: This configurationis used when there is a NickelRemoval System (NiRS)installed and the flow rate ofthe nickel removal streamprovides sufficient flow for therequired removal of bismuth orantimony. In this case, theBARS system processes theNiRS treated stream toremove bismuth andantimony.
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BARS-B: This configuration is used whenthere is no Nickel Removal System (NiRS)required or when the treatment flowrate of theNiRS is insufficient to provide an adequateflow to the BARS system for the requiredbismuth/antimony removal. In this case theBARS system treats copper electrolyte directlyfor the tank house and includes its ownSpectrum Micro Media prefiltration unit. �
CCopper TaTT nk House
CCopper TaTT nk House
Bleed SStream to
Liberator Cells
Bleed SStream to
Liberator Cells
Eco-TeTT c Nickel
Removal System
(if required)
Purifffied Electrolyte RecycleDilute WaWW ste
Bi/Sb Salt
NaCI
HCI
WaWW ter
Liberator Cell
WaWW ter
PurifiecElectrolyteRecycle
[DepletedNi/Sb/Biproduct]
Eco-TeTT c Bi/Sb
Removal
System
Ni SSSSSSalt or
Metal
NaCI HCI WaWW ter
Eco-TeTT c Bi/Sb
Removal
System
Liberator CCell
Bi//SSb SSalt
Dilute WaWW ste
Purified Electrolyte
recycle
Arsenic Removal System (ARS)
Arsenic is often present in copper electrolytes. In certrr ain concentrations, along with bismuth and antimony, they produceslimes that may be beneficial for control of impurities in the copper. However, higher concentrations can be problematic.
The Arsenic Removal System (ARS) uses Recoflo technology and a selective ion exchange resin for the removal ofarsenic. The feed stream to the ARS is dosed with sulfur dioxide to reduce As (V) to As (III). The purified electrolytestream is recycled back to the copper tank house while the resin is periodically regenerated with caustic (NaOH) andwater to produce a concentrated, dissolved arsenic salt stream.
Copper TaTT nk House
Bleed SStream to Liberator CCells
Liberator CCell
Eco-TeTT c Nickel
Removal System
(if required)
Eco-TeTT c Bi/Sb
Removal System
(if required)
Eco-TeTT c As
Removal
System
Dissolved Arsenic salt stream
PurifiecElectrolyteRecycle
[Depleted As product]
SO2
NaOOOOOOOH
WaWW ter
• Acid/s// alt separation using water eluable resin e.g. sulphuric acid separationfrom metal salts
• Recoveryrr of metal salts from dilute streams using ion exchange
• Selective resin separation e.g. nickel, cobalt
• Microfiltration of process solution using permanentbackwkk ashable media (Spectrum filter)
• Water demineralization or softening
Other Eco-Tec Products for Hydrometallurgical Operations
Copper Electrolyte Purification Systems
Selenium Removal System (SeRS)Tellurium Removal System (TeRS)co-Tec Selenium Removal System and Tellurium Removal System are currentlyunder development, please contact Eco-Tec for more information.
•Falconbridge Innovation Award
Presented to Eco-Tec Inc. inrecognition of “The invention,development and internationalcommercialization of the APU forthe purification of acidicsolutions in the metallurgicalindustry.”
• Eco-Tec continues to develop product improvements andnew processes with its in-house Research andDevelopment facility.
Innovations
Eco-Tec’s Systems use the Recoflo ion exchange process which improves theperformance of ion exchange.
Recoflo has been used for over 40 years in a variety of industrial watertreatment and chemical process applications with more than 2,000 systemsinstalled worldwide.
Key features include:
• Fine Mesh Resin
Finer mesh resin pack more surface areainto the same volume
• Compressed Short Resin Beds
Compressed resin beds promote uniformflow distribution and plug flow conditions.
RecoFlo Ion Exchange:
Superior filtration performance to eliminate many of the fouling problems related toion exchange, reverse osmosis, or solvent extraction.
The layer of micro media has a very small particle size and acts as a barrier to small suspended solid particles. The
Spectrum micro media is proprietary,yy inert, long-lifeff (virtually permanent) media. It is much heavier in density than
nutshells or sand which ensures that it reclassi�ies (resettles below the nutshells aftff er backwashing) and is virtually
impossible to backwash out of the �ilter vessel.
Designed for simple, low cost operation• 5 standard models ranging from 50 - 2,000 gpm, (11 - 450 m3/hr)
Spectrum Micro Media Filtration
CoCC noo vevv nee tittoii noo ann lMMMeMM diddaiiPaPP rtrr itt cii lccell SiSSzii ezz : 222022 - 3033 mesee hss
NuNN tstt hss elee lll MeMM diiddaaiiiiPaPP rtrr itt cii lccell SiSSzii ezz : 22022 - 3033 mesee hss
SSppSS eeccttrrttt urr mm MMiiMMM cciii rroorrr MMeeddiiddd aaiiiPaPP rtrr itt cii lell Sizii e: 80 - 230 mesh
Conventional.MediaFFiilltteerr
Spectrum™Micro Media
FFiilltteerr
Ion Exchange & Filtration
• Counter-Current Regeneration
Prosep TeTT chnologies Limited
Unit 6A, Zone 4, Burntwood Business Park
Burntwood, Staffff off rdshire
England WS7 3XD
Phone: +44(0)1543 675731
Fax: +44(0)1543 679484
Eco-TeTT c Inc.
1145 Squires Beach Road
Pickering, Ontario
Canada L1W 3T9
Phone: (1) 905-427-0077
Fax: (1) 905-427-4477
Eco-TeTT c Solutions - India
No 5 City Center,
930 Synagogue Street, Camp,
PUNE, India 411 001
Phone: (91) (020) 64001056
Fax: (91) (020) 26052160
All statements, infoff rmation and recommendations contained herein are, to our knowledge, true and accurate. However, no guarantee or warranty is given, expressed orimplied. Nor shall any statement, infoff rmation or recommendation constitute a representation unless set foff rth in an agreement signed by Eco-TeTT c. Recoflo is a registeredtrademark of Eco-TeTT c Inc.. All rights reservrr ed.
For more infoff rmation, or to request a proposal, visit our website or contact:
www.ww eco-tec.com
Proven Performance• ystem operating at a Freeport McMoRan faff cility (leftff ). More than 1,000 systems of
this type are installed to purifyff acids in a variety of industrial applications.
• Eco-T- ec has been building Recoflff o® ion exchange systems foff r industrial treatment
and water purifcff ation applications since 1970 with more than 2,000 systems
installed in over 60 countries.
Quality Design and Construction• ISO 9001 registered design and manufaff cturing faff cility in Pickering, Ontario
• Built to global industrial standards
• Compact, skid mounted (including resin installation) and wet tested at Eco-T- ec’s ISO faff ctory
Technical Service and Support• On-site commissioning supervision, perfoff rmance demonstration, and operator training
• Perfoff rmance monitoring and technical support program (Eco-SERVRR ™)
• 24/7 telephone access to technical services support
• Extensive spare parts inventory foff r next day shipment of most replacement parts
Revised: 12 02 07
Offering The Complete PackageOffering The Complete Package
BRMC600
