Investigating electrodes for the extraction and utilization of copper from spent etching solutions
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1
Department of Construction and Civil Security, Khmelnytskyi National University, Instytuts’ka St.11, 29000, Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine
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Department of Ecology, Chemistry and Environmental Protection Technologies, Vinnytsia National Technical University, Khmel’nyts’ke Highway, 95, 21000, Vinnytsia, Ukraine
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Department of Water Supply and Sewage Systems, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstańców Warszawy 12, 35-959, Rzeszow, Poland
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Department of Information Technology, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38, 20-618, Lublin, Poland
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Department of Ecology and Environmental Technologies, Dnipro University of Technology, Dmytra Yavornytskoho Ave 19, 49005, Dnipro, Ukraine
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Department of Tribology, Automobiles and Materials Science, Khmelnytskyi National University, Instytuts’ka St. 11, 29000, Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine
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Department of Agricultural Engineering, Lutsk National Technical University, Lvivska St. 75, 43000, Lutsk, Ukraine
Corresponding author
Mykhaylo Pashechko
Department of Information Technology, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38, 20-618, Lublin, Poland
Adv. Sci. Technol. Res. J. 2025; 19(5):366-374
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ABSTRACT
Today, reagent-based technologies for metal removal from water often fail to achieve the necessary purification efficiency for reuse and result in the accumulation of toxic sludge. This article aims to test a regenerator for restoring the properties of etching solutions used in printed circuit boards, evaluate the performance of electrodes in depositing dense copper precipitates during etching solution regeneration, and explore the use of recovered copper in repair processes. During the study, an electrochemical process was employed to deposit a copper layer onto the regeneration unit’s electrodes, along with mechanical testing of the electrodes for separating the removed product from the spent solution. This article investigates the electrochemical regeneration of etching solutions in the printed circuit board etching process, leading to the formation of dense copper deposits on electrodes (regenerators) made of copper, stainless steel, and titanium. The mechanical separation of the recovered copper material reveals that titanium cathodes yield superior results, making titanium the preferred electrode material for regenerator design. Additionally, the findings confirm that the copper deposited on titanium cathodes meets the quality standards required for reuse after remelting in the electrical engineering industry. Copper recovered from spent etching solutions, when combined with a bronze coating applied to the copper layer, improves adhesion and can be used in repair work. Additionally, it enhances the antifriction properties of the friction pair. The article identifies suitable materials for use as regenerator electrodes in removing copper from spent etching solutions. It also examines the correlation between electrode surface finish quality and the detachment force of copper deposits in the regenerator, considering the surface roughness of titanium electrodes. The proposed methods and regeneration scheme for the used etching solution enable the creation of integrated equipment that incorporates a regeneration unit, with the primary component being a system (electrolyser) where copper extracted from the used etching solution will be deposited onto the designated electrode. This study facilitates the development of a technological process for recycling aqueous etching solutions, helping to minimize environmental impact.