Regeneration of sulfuric acid from electrolyte waste of the copper - smelting plant using solvent extraction

Abstract Quantitative data have been obtained on the distribution of sulfuric acid in ROH - H 2 SO 4 - H 2 O systems in a broad acid concentration range for aliphatic alcohols of the ROH (R = C 8 -C 10 ) homologous series. Alcohols had different structures. A correlation has been established between the extractive ability of the alcohols and the acid concentration, alcohol structure, temperature, time of phase contact, and phase volume ratios. The data obtained on the alcohol solubility in aqueous H 2 SO 4 solutions allowed us to estimate the extragent loss in practical hydrometallurgical applications. Optimal conditions have been determined for the process of sulfuric acid recovery and purification from copper electrolyte waste. The conditions have been tested in continuous mode at a cascade of laboratory extractors.