Copper removal with aluminium

A mixture of aluminium powder and hot copper oxide exploded violently during mixing with a steel shovel on an iron plate. The frictional mixing initiated the thermite-like mixture [1]. Such mixtures are now used in electro-explosive devices [2], Two cases of violent explosions after adding scrap copper to molten aluminium are discussed. In both cases, when some undissolved copper with adhering aluminium and oxide dross was removed from the furnace, the explosions occurred outside the melting furnace [3],... 

Methyl alcohol of very high purity can be obtained by fractional distillation using a column of 1-3 metres effective length and then refluxing with aluminium amalgam. It is then refluxed under a column packed with dehydrated copper sulphate, to remove ammonia. A sensitive test for acetone and formaldehyde is the addition of cone, mercuric cyanide solution, in 6N-sodium hydroxide. A white precipitate indicates ketone if it darkens on standing aldehyde is also present. (J. C. S., 127, 2552.)... 

Where high purity concentrates are processed and only minor amounts of copper have to be removed, one method used at the Naoshima smelter in Japan is to add aluminium to form the intermetallic compound CUAI2. Aluminium is added as a 40 per cent alloy with zinc because of its low melting point at 560°C compared with aluminium at 660°C. Zinc is removed from the lead later either in the dezincing process or by caustic soda treatment. This method produces a dry powdery dross, which is easily handled and can reduce copper levels to less than one gram per tonne (Moriya, 1989). 

Discussion. Minute amounts of beryllium may be readily determined spectrophotometrically by reaction under alkaline conditions with 4-nitrobenzeneazo-orcinol. The reagent is yellow in a basic medium in the presence of beryllium the colour changes to reddish-brown. The zone of optimum alkalinity is rather critical and narrow buffering with boric acid increases the reproducibility. Aluminium, up to about 240 mg per 25 mL, has little influence provided an excess of 1 mole of sodium hydroxide is added for each mole of aluminium present. Other elements which might interfere are removed by preliminary treatment with sodium hydroxide solution, but the possible co-precipitation of beryllium must be considered. Zinc interferes very slightly but can be removed by precipitation as sulphide. Copper interferes seriously, even in such small amounts as are soluble in sodium hydroxide solution. The interference of small amounts of copper, nickel, iron and calcium can be prevented by complexing with EDTA and triethanolamine. 

After adjusting to 2 mol 1 1 in hydrochloric acid, 500 ml of the sample is adsorbed on a column of Dowex 1-XS resin (Cl form) and elution is then effected with 2 M nitric acid. The solution is evaporated to dryness after adding 1M hydrochloric acid, and the tin is again adsorbed on the same column. Tin is eluted with 2 M nitric acid, and determined in the eluate by the spectrophotometric catechol violet method. There is no interference from 0.1 mg of aluminium, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, bismuth, or uranium any titanium, zirconium, or antimony are removed by ion exchange. Filtration of the sample through a Millipore filter does not affect the results, which are in agreement with those obtained by neutron activation analysis. 

Since the mixture is highly hygroscopic it should be protected against atmospheric moisture. During melting it is also necessary to avoid contact between the mixture and brass or other copper alloys since the latter are liable to react with metallic aluminium. Kettles should be washed with water every 24 hr to remove all residues of the mixture. 

Nitroglycerine that escapes onto the floor or onto parts of the machinery, etc. should be removed by means of a sponge from which it is then extracted and rinsed under a stream of water into a special vessel for nitroglycerine waste. The spillage area should then be washed with water, by means of another sponge. If acid escapes the area should be covered with siliceous earth or with fine sand, and the whole removed by means of a shovel and drowned in a large amount of water. A copper or aluminium shovel is necessary in case nitroglycerine is present in the acid. 

B. Wet Processes.—These vary considerably in detail according to the nature and amount of constituents other than vanadium in the ore. An outline of the operations involved in the case of patronite is as follows The ore is roasted with common salt or sodium carbonate and then extracted either (a) with water to give an alkaline solution of sodium vanadate and soluble vanadates of other metals, any lead, zinc, copper, etc., being left in the residue or (b) with sulphuric acid to produce a solution of vanadyl sulphate. Acid extraction is usually employed when the vanadium content of the material is low. The alkaline extract from (a) is treated with excess of sodium carbonate in order to precipitate calcium and aluminium, after removal of which,... 

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