RECUPERACIÓN DE METALES DE RESIDUOS LÍQUIDOS GENERADOS POR LA INDUSTRIA GALVÁNICA

Abstract

The research tried to recover cooper and zinc, from liquid waste produced by the galvanic industry, using physiochemical and electrochemical processes. The factorial design 2k was used for the experimental part, defining as variables: the concentration of the solution, voltage and anodic/ cathodic area relation. Before the electrolysis, it is necessary make a pre concentrated solution of zinc through inverse osmosis method. An electrolytic process apply to the rinse water was done in an electrochemical cell that uses inert electrodes of graphite and/ or cathodes of the same metals that are going to be recovered. The operation is regulated by the conditions established in the essay matrices. For the recovery of cooper and zinc the appropriated conditions were the following: solution concentration 1%; 2:1 anodic/cathodic area relation; and, voltage 2.5 and 4 V respectively. The recovery process yield was 96% for copper and 76% for zinc.