Paired electrochemical recovery of metal ions from emulated e-waste leached solutions in an RCE electrochemical reactor

This work proposes the paired electrochemical recovery of metal ions, cathodically and anodically, from emulated e-waste leached solutions. Under this methodology, the recovery of a bimetallic deposit of copper-silver at the cathode, and lead dioxide at the anode, was successfully achieved in an undivided rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) electrochemical reactor. The RCE electrochemical reactor was implemented at 300 rpm and different current densities, 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 mA/ cm2. Different compositions of the bimetallic copper-silver deposits were obtained depending on the current density applied, while in the anodes, only the deposition of lead dioxide was performed at any current density. The concentration depletion of metal ions was determined at different intervals of time. The cell voltage, cathode, and anode potential vs. SCE, were continuously monitored, and the values were useful to evaluate the energetic performance of the RCE electrochemical reactor. Figures of merit are presented to describe the performance of the RCE electrochemical reactor in the paired recovery of metal ions from emulated e-waste leached solution.