Copper leaching from wastes electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) using alkaline monosodium glutamate: Thermodynamics and dissolution tests

Abstract Currently, the generation of electrical and electronic wastes is growing fast, thereby the reduction of the environmental impacts generated by its inadequate disposal is an ongoing challenge. In this study, a research on the use of monosodium glutamate for copper leaching, with emphasis on the thermodynamics and oxidant characteristics, is presented. Copper dissolution was conducted following a hydrometallurgical route, using monosodium glutamate in alkaline solutions. The effect of oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and potassium permanganate (KMnO4), and the efficiency of copper leaching with glutamate compared with glycine have been studied. Results, obtained at room temperature, showed 92% recovery of copper using 0.03 M hydrogen peroxide, 0.5 M monosodium glutamate at a pH of 9.44. This novel method would allow the extraction of copper from WEEE at low temperature, using an environmentally friendly leaching amino acid for the recovery of copper from electronic waste.