On the Possibility of Cu-Ferritization in the Ferrite Treatment of Heavy Metals Containing Waste Water

Abstract

Cu ions in waste water can be removed by ferrite treatment, but the reduction of Cu²⁺ by Fe²⁺ and the mechanism of Cu⁺-ferritization are not made clear.
In this paper, the authors studied the behavior of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in the ferrite treatment with chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction and the dissolution of Cu from products obtained by the ferrite treatment. Cu²⁺ was almost reduced to Cu⁺ before aeration and Cu⁺ existed as Cu₂O. But Cu₂O in the suspension was oxidized to CuO after the oxidation of Fe²⁺, and CuO is easy to dissolve in acidic condition.