• Resources Recycling
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.84-90
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• 2017

The electro-refining process was performed to recovery high purity copper from low grade copper containing sludge in sulfuric acid. The surface morphologies and roughness of electro-refining copper were analyzed with variation of the type and concentration of organic additives, the best surface morphology was obtained 5 ppm of the gelatin type and 5 to 10 ppm of the thiol type organic additive. The crude metal consisted of copper with 86.635, 94.969 and 99.917 wt.%, several impurity metals of iron, nickel, cobalt and tin by pyro-metallurgical process. After electro-refining process, the purity of copper increases to 3N or 4N grade. The impurity concentrations and copper purities of copper crude metals, electrolyte and electro-refining copper were analyzed using ICP-OES, the electro-refining time and purity of copper crude metal to recover 4N grade copper were deduced.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.162-177
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• 2020

Research was conducted to characterize the copper production and smelting process with 11 copper smelting by-products (copper slag and copper crucible) excavated from the NA and LA areas at the Gwanbuk-ri archeological site in Buyeo. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and Raman microspectroscopy were employed in the analysis. The research results reveal that the copper slag from Gwanbuk-ri contained silicate oxide, magnetite, fayalite, and delafossite, which are typical characteristics of crucible slag and refined slag. The outward appearance and microstructure of the slag were grouped as follows: 1. glassy matrix + Cu prill, 2. glassy matrix + Cu prill + magnetite, 3. silicate mineral matrix + Cu prill, 4. crystalline (delafossite and magnetite) + amorphous (Cu prill), 5. magnetite + fayalite, and 6. slag from slag. The copper slags from Guanbuk-ri were found to contain residues of impurities such as SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, SO₄, P₂O₅, Ag₂O, and Sb₂O₃ in their microstructure, and, in some cases, it was confirmed that copper, tin and lead are alloys. These results indicate that refining of intermediate copper(including impurities) and refining of alloys of copper(including impurities) - tin and refining of copper(including impurities) - tin - lead took place during the copper production process at Gwanbuk-ri, Buyeo.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.44-52
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• 2018

In this study, copper was recovered from copper containing sludge by selectively controlling electro-refining process conditions in copper sulfate electrolyte solution. Electro-refining process was performed by LSV (Linear Sweep Voltammetry) result according to copper sulfate electrolyte solution concentration, applied current density, additive type and concentration. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and PSA (Particle Size Analyzer) were used to analyze the shape and size of copper powder. In the 0.1 ~ 0.4 M copper sulfate electrolyte solution without organic additives, the copper powder size decreased as the applied current density became closer to the limiting current density and the copper powder size tended to decrease in 0.2 ~ 0.3 M copper sulfate electrolyte solution. In addition, when the shape and size of the copper powder were analyzed by adding various types and concentrations of organic additives to the previous experimental, fine spherical copper powder having the smallest size (nm) was obtained under the condition of cellulose type additive 2,000 ppm.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.3-14
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• 2019

Copper is one of the first metals utilized by humankind about 11,500 years ago. But copper is not plentiful metallic element in the earth's crust. Copper has a high thermal and electric conductivity and is relatively corrosion resistant. In principle copper is virtually 100 % recyclable as an element without loss of quality. The recycling of copper scrap reduces the energy consumption and environmental burden, comparing to the primary metal production. Currently, approximately 30% of the global copper supply provides by recycling. Copper scrap is smelted in primary and secondary smelter. Type of furnace and process steps depend on the quality and grade of scrap. Depending on copper content of the secondary raw material, refining is required, which is usually done through electrorefining. This work provides an overview of the primary copper production and recycling process.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2007

A wastewater treatment plant, operating process is physico-chemical/biological activated sludge attached sand filtration, was selected to evaluate effluent quality and pollutants removal efficiencies consideration for deriving the technology-based effluent limitation for petroleum refining industry discharge. The results of influent and effluent analysis were as follows: Average effluent quality were 0.076mg/l of copper, 0.084mg/l of lead, 0.036mg/l of zinc, 0.005mg/l of nickel and 0.004mg/l of cadmium, and the range of coefficient of reliability from 0.007 of copper to 1.0 of lead. Also, 95% of reliability, 0.112, 0.15, 0.063, 0.015 and 0.009mg/l, respectively, were remarkably lower than their effluent limitations. And to reach 95% reliability of effluent limitation at cleanness area, designed effluent quality of copper, lead, zinc and cadmium should be 0.268, 0.099, 0.526 and 0.008mg/l, respectively.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.552-557
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• 2001

Copper slag is the by-producted material on the proceeding of refining the copper. To verify applications of copper slag to vertical drain material can substitute for the sands in ground improvement, laboratory soil tests and consolidation model tests were conducted. The results of consolidation model test was analyzed as the hyperbolic method. The hyperbolic method assumes that the settlement(s) versus time(t) behavior approaches a straight line describes a hyperbolic reaction. The inverse of the slope of the line would then yield the ultimate settlement. Through in this study, copper slag is compatible with vertical drain material as like sands. Copper slag compaction pile promote the consolidation settlement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.453-458
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• 2001

Copper slag is produced about 700,000 tons annually though copper refining process in Korea. In the paper, a laboratory investigation was carried out to estimate the geotechnical properties of copper slag and examine the feasibility of using the copper slag as a substitute for conventional construction materials and the improvement of the soft clay deposit. The specific gravity of copper slag is 3.45, and pH is 7.83. And the size distribution of the copper slag is well graded, so usage of copper slag will be extended in Geotechnical engineering fields. Copper slag has the permeability of 3.502${\times}$10￣$^2$cm/sec, which is satisfied with the criterion of sand drainage materials.. At the same time, it is thought to be suitable material for sand mat since it meets JIS of grain size distribution. The content of CaO from steel slag is about 40 percent while that of CaO from copper slag is about 5 percent. Based on this fact, copper slag has less hardening property compared to steel slag. Therefore, copper slag can be used as vertical drains, filters, and sand mats for improving the soft deposit.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

The metals contamination of farmland soil nearby abandoned metal mine was serious problem in Korea. Stabilization of contaminated soil was reported using various stabilizers. Application of limestone and steel refining slag was reported as effective stabilizers in the stabilization of metals. The batch studies confirmed that the mixture of limestone and steel refining slag was suitable for stabilization of metals in contaminated soil. The limestone and steel refining slag mixture (2 : 1 and 3 : 2) were used in column studies and it was confirmed that the stabilizers effectively stabilized heavy metals in contaminated soil. The pH of the soil was increased with the addition of stabilizers. Total leached concentration of metals from the column study was reduced 44, 17, and 93% in comparison to the control at arsenic, cadmium and copper, respectively. The sequential extraction studies showed that the exchangeable fraction was changed into carbonate bound fraction (Cd and Cu) and Fe-Mn oxide bound fraction (As). Based on the results we confirmed that 2:1 ratio of limestone and steel refining slag effectively stabilizes the heavy metals. The mixed treatment of lime stone with steel refining slag would be an effective and feasible method for controlling metals leaching in contaminated soil.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.317-322
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• 2002

In modern times, the environment preservation is global tendency and self social awareness is arise. Measures to the environment preservation and pollution is going on study. One measure is recycling and reuse of by product and it is already developed in some advanced country. There is 7 hundred thousand tons of copper slag production from copper refining process in domestic. The purpose of this study is reusing copper slag -by product which produced L cooperation in domestic-as fine aggregate for producing high strength concrete and investigating the fundamental characteristics.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.143-150
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• 2011

Copper electroplating has been applied to various fields such as decorative plating and through-hole plating. Technical realization of high strength copper preplating for wear-resistant tools and molds in addition to these applications is the aim of this work. Brighters and levelers, such as MPSA, Gelatin, Thiourea, PEG and JGB, were added in copper sulfate electrolyte, and the effects of these organic additives on the hardness were evaluated. All additives in this work were effective in increasing the hardness of copper electrodeposits. Thiourea increased the hardness up to 350 VHN, and was the most effective accelarator in sulfate electrolyte. It was shown from the X-ray diffraction analysis that preferred orientation changed from (200) to (111) with increasing concentration of organic additives. Crystallite size decreased with increasing concentration of additive. Hardness was increased with decreasing crystallite size, and this result is consistent with Hall-Petch relationship, and it was apparent that the hardening of copper electrodeposits results from the grain refining effect.