Integrated process for copper and zinc recovery from automobile residues

Researchers of Ghent University and the new research centre on resource recovery technologies CAPTURE recently proposed their process for recovery of copper and zinc from automobile shredder residues, a fast-growing industrial waste stream that is currently landfilled or incinerated. The valuable metals are extracted hydrometallurgically and recovered by combining electrodeposition, ammonia stripping with solid crystallization. Copper was retrieved for 95 % at the cathode using an energy input of 12.4 kWh per kilogram. Zinc was solidified by flushing CO₂ gas through the system. The integrated system recycled the chemicals used for leaching with only a minimal input of reagents, demonstrating nearly full circularity.

Rui Gao, Karel Folens, Bernd Mees, Gijs Du Laing, Korneel Rabaey, Luiza Bonin

More information can be found on:

CAPTURE: Welcome to CAPTURE | CAPTURE (capture-resources.be)

Publication: Copper and zinc extraction from automobile shredder residues via an integrated electrodeposition and crystallization process – ScienceDirect