blingelvis
Electrical
How can I reclame or get copper from scrapes of waste copper by using the process of electrolysis.
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reclaming copper
- Thread starter blingelvis
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Get a stainless steel crock pot, fill it with "battery acid" this is the elctrolyte.
Drop your scrapings into the pot.they should sink to the bottom but will be touching the stainless steel.
Get a battery charger, connect the negative to the crock pot, suspend a copper anode, "copper plate" in the electrolyte, making sure that positive connection or the anode does not come in contact with the crock pot or the scrapings.
Apply some volts ,preferably 6. bubbles will occur, these are potentially explosive, so do this in a well ventilated or better still out side in the open air.
The voltage should be 6 or under, there are various ways of regulating the voltage. but that is reserved for another question.
The copper will be deposited onto the copper anode, it will get heavier and heavier. this anode should touch nothing other than the electrolyte. which should be kept away from children, animals, wives etc sulphuric acid is nasty stuff as it may only be weak but as the water in it evaporates it gets stronger, and likes burning holes in people and their clothing, always have some soda handy to neutralize it in an emergancy, you could do a bit of copper plating while your at it.
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