Synthesis and characterisation of nano-composite copper oxalate powders by a surfactant-free stripping–precipitation process

The use of surfactants has been reported for controlling the particle size and morphology of metal oxalates and hydroxide precipitates in chemical precipitation processes. However, the mechanism involved is not clearly understood and the removal of surfactants from synthesized precipitates can be an obstacle for its large-scale industrial applications. In this study, a surfactant-free stripping–precipitation approach was proposed to synthesize nano-composite powders of copper oxalate. Copper ions were extracted by an organic extractant and oxalic acid-ethanol aqueous solution was employed to strip and precipitate copper. The effect of extractant, organic phase copper concentration, stripping phase ethanol content, temperature and time were investigated. The copper precipitates were characterised by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and laser particle analyzer.

Instead of using surfactant for preparation of nano-composite copper oxalate powder in a chemical precipitation process, a surfactant-free stripping-precipitation approach in which copper was extracted in trioctylamine diluted with tetrachloride carbon and oxalic acid-ethanol aqueous solution was employed to strip and precipitate copper. The precipitates were characterized by x-ray diffractometry, scanning electro microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and laser particle analyzer.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide