Sorption recovery of copper (II) and zinc (II) from chloride aqueous solutions

The present investigation is devoted to simultaneous sorption recovery of copper (II) and zinc (II) ions on some commercial anion exchangers with different physical-chemical properties. The initial concentrations of zinc and copper were 1-3 mmol L-1 and the recovery was carried out in 0.01 M and 2 M hydrochloric acid solutions. It was shown that the investigated anion exchangers possess good sorption and kinetic properties. After the recovery of copper and zinc from strong acidic solutions, their selective elution was carried out by means of 2 M hydrochloric acid solution (zinc recovery) and 2 M ammonia solution (copper recovery). In weak acidic solutions, copper and zinc were separated during sorption, as zinc sorption did not proceed in this case. The subsequent copper (II) elution was carried out by 2 M ammonia solution. The anion exchangers Purolite S985, Purolite A500 and AM-2B can be recommended for zinc and copper recovery from acidic industrial solutions and waste water