A Simplified Extractive Metallurgy Exercise to Demonstrate Selective Extraction of Copper

Abstract

A laboratory activity is described for senior high school or first year undergraduate level students that illustrates key concepts linked to extractive metallurgy. This experiment demonstrates preferential binding of a methoxyphenolic oxime ligand to Cu 2+ in the presence of other transition metal ions in aqueous solution. The students are tasked to investigate the importance of the spatial relationship between the oxime and phenol group of two potential ligands by performing a series of short and simple tests. The objective is achieved by identifying which methoxyphenolic oxime ligand selectively and rapidly forms an isolable precipitate with Cu 2+ ions. Only one of the potential ligands exhibits a clear preference for binding to Cu 2+ , and this can easily be identified visually (and confirmed by UV−visible spectroscopy if desired). The experiment has successfully been employed as part of an extracurricular laboratory course involving groups of 25−30 high school students.

Crafting Chemical Art with Safflower Extract: Home-based Acid–Base Chemistry and Spectrochemistry During Holidays

“…Students will execute the experiment at their own homes during the winter vacation, following the procedure outlined by the authors, and will showcase their findings at the commencement of the subsequent semester (Figure ). The experiment follows the principles of safety, green, , simplicity, − and economy. , …”

Efficient Extraction of Metal Ions Using a Recirculating Two‐Stage Flow Reactor

“…The high selectivity of X towards Cu 2+ ions is clearly seen in Figure S1, which shows the effect of adding a (water‐miscible) ethanolic solution of X to aqueous solutions of CuSO 4 , NiSO 4 , and CoSO 4 . Immediate precipitation occurs when X is mixed with CuSO 4 due to the formation of the water‐insoluble copper complex Y , while no precipitation occurs when X is mixed with NiSO 4 or CoSO 4 due to a size‐mismatch between the N 2 O 2 − cavity and the Ni 2+ and Co 2+ metal ions that inhibits complexation [29] . X is best suited to copper extraction under conditions of mild pH.…”