Selective recovery of copper from copper tailings and wastewater using chelating resins with bis-picolylamine functional groups

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27766
• Publication Date: 2024-03-12T16:52:35Z
• Authors: Kosisochi Ibebunjo; Youssef El Ouardi; John Kwame Bediako; Anna Iurchenkova; Eveliina Repo
• Keywords: Copper mine

Industrial and mining wastewater, along with copper tailings, are typically highly acidic contain other heavy metals, which may contaminate damage the environment. Copper (Cu) is, however, a valuable metal, making its removal recovery from such wastewater tailings environmentally economically advantageous. Chelating ion exchange resins featuring bis-picolylamine functional groups especially suitable for application requiring selective of Cu(II) media. In this study, first time, kinetics, binding capacity selectivity Lewatit MDS TP 220 chelating resin towards reported. The was characterized by Zeta potential, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron (XPS). Factors including pH, initial concentration, contact temperature, were investigated to assess adsorption performance resin. kinetics tests revealed fast within 5–30 min fitted pseudo-second-order model, signifying chemisorption process. isotherm followed Langmuir implying monolayer maximum (qm) determined model 103.9 mg/g. thermodynamics showed an endothermic spontaneous adsorption. FTIR XPS studies suggested coordination or chelation as possible mechanism. exhibited excellent adsorption, desorption 2 M ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), in multi-metal ions solution. Additionally, demonstrated reusability after five regeneration steps. This is potential adsorbent effective recurrent thereby contributing environmental remediation.