Electrochemistry Cu-Ni-Co-Fe-Sn separation?

[kjavanb123]

All,

From the post titled "CPU lot collection" under type of scraps, I have gathered a gallon of solution that contains the Cu-Ni-Co-Fe-Sn and maybe some Al since i have processed mostly ceramic types of chips. Is there any ways I can separate each of the metals mentioned, so once I get my hands on kilos worth of boards I know how much to expect?

Ag/Pb can be dropped using ice and sulfuric acid.

Thanks and regards,
Kevin

 

[goldsilverpro]

All,

From the post titled "CPU lot collection" under type of scraps, I have gathered a gallon of solution that contains the Cu-Ni-Co-Fe-Sn and maybe some Al since i have processed mostly ceramic types of chips. Is there any ways I can separate each of the metals mentioned, so once I get my hands on kilos worth of boards I know how much to expect?

Ag/Pb can be dropped using ice and sulfuric acid.

Thanks and regards,
Kevin

I'm sure you could use chemical methods (selective precipitation, solvent extraction, ion exchange, etc.) to separate these but I seriously doubt if you could affect an accurate electrolytic separation. AA or ICP would tell you the concentrations in solution of the individual metals. Even if you could get accurate numbers, I can't see how they would be of any value at all. To me, it would be absolutely worthless information. Each type board would be different. You're not going to be able to separate these metals and sell them individually, anyway, so why waste your time and effort? I think it's a fool's errand, as the old saying goes.

 

[kjavanb123]

Harold,

I was interested in finding out more about the contents of each metal in a mixed lot of boards. So once I could get my hands on a larger lots 100s of lbs, maybe these metals could also be somewhat valuable.

So I gotta search the chemical section for what drops what in a mixed solution of base metals.

Thanks and regards,
Kevin

 

[patnor1011]

It was Chris, not Harold.
I am sorry but I believe that you will not be able to profitably recover metals (apart from Au, Pd, Pt and maybe silver to some extent) which you dissolve in solution. Not possible for backyard refiner. You may drop copper out of solutions and sell that if your buyer will accept it but that is about everything you will be able to perform.

 

[kjavanb123]

patnor,

I checked out sciencetalk.com there was some great topics about Cu/Ni separation from their nitric solution, it's doable but too much toxic gas. How about the Tin in boards? Are they worth trying to collect? It seems most of the welding on PCBs are some tin alloy.

Thanks in advance
Kevin

 

[patnor1011]

The only economical way (and taht depend on source of your heat) is to heat solder till it melt and accumulate/collect it. Some paople use heat gun and bang with board over some catch pan or surface to collect drops of tin. Neater process is large pan on heat source with about 0.5 cm of liquid tin there they sit board for a few seconds. Liquid tin help to melt tin on board and accumulate over time.
I do not think that chemical separation is viable in home or back yard conditions. I know it can be and it is done by companies but they do have proper hardware and safety measures in place.

 

[Rougemillenial]

what i'd do with a solution like this is just add a lot of aluminium foil to reduce metal ions to metal sponge. then the remaining solution is neutralized with lime or soda ash until it turns into gel. then the resulting aluminum hydroxide can be thrown into the regular trash since it's essentially bauxite

 

[richoc]

Electro winning is your only chance.
You will need to do much study.
I can inform you that you will need pure samples of each metal you wish to recover.
Not really what is covered on this site.

 

[gcdrummer02]

You could always use a lead cathode and plate the metals in solution onto chosen metals. You would probly get a jumbled mess of deposits, but it would allow another method of getting the metals out of solution, then they could be treated independently.