Novel applications of vacuum distillation for heavy metals removal from wastewater, copper nitrate hydroxide recovery, and copper sulfide impregnated activated carbon synthesis for gaseous mercury adsorption

Hydrometallurgical processing of electronic waste produces copper (Cu)-containing wastewater. Recycling of Cu is thus crucial, as it reduces the Cu impact on the environment, and increases Cu sustainability in industry. Vacuum distillation provides excellent performance in both metals removal from aqueous solution, metal recovery, and metal impregnation to porous material. Thus, this work aimed to both utilize a vacuum distillation to remove heavy metals (Cu, Na, Ni, Zn and Fe) and recover copper nitrate hydroxide (Cu₂NO₃(OH)₃) from Cu-containing wastewater in industrial applications (e.g., mordant agent in dyeing and pigment for glass), as well as prepare copper sulfide (CuS) impregnated activated carbon for mercury (Hg⁰) adsorption. The experimental results indicated a vacuum distillation metals removal efficiency of over 99.99 % at 60 °C and −72 cm Hg. Additionally, the copper nitrate hydroxide (Cu₂NO₃(OH)₃) crystalline solid derived from the vacuum distillation process achieved 77 % purity, and the copper sulfide impregnated activated carbon (CuSAC) adsorbents were prepared by adding activated carbon (AC) during the vacuum distillation process. In adsorption tests, 50 % CuSAC exhibited the greatest gaseous mercury (Hg⁰) adsorption performance, and it was noted that a high adsorption temperature of 175 °C negatively impacted Hg⁰ adsorption of 50 % CuSAC due to mercury sulfide (HgS) decomposition. Furthermore, in a simulated flue gas (SFG) environment, Hg⁰ capture by CuSAC was shown to be slightly obstructed. In addition, mercury temperature-programmed desorption (Hg-TPD) identified that HgS was the dominant species among adsorbed Hg species of Hg-laden 50 % CuSAC, indicating that Hg⁰ capture of CuSAC was mainly facilitated by sulfur active sites. As such, the vacuum distillation technique proved to efficiently remove metals and leads to successful preparation of adsorbent for Hg. Therefore, the process is an effective treatment method for Cu-containing wastewater, and can be practically applied to capture or recycle Cu in the industry in the future.