Exploring Strategies for Copper Removal from Nickel Anolytes: A Review

Various methods, such as electrochemical purification, chemical precipitation, solvent extraction, and ion-exchange resins, have been extensively employed for the removal of copper from nickel anolytes. However, these methods exhibit several significant drawbacks when applied in industrial settings. For instance, electrochemical purification fails to efficiently manage nickel anolyte solutions with low copper content. Chemical precipitation presents challenges in residue management and incurs high production costs for precipitants. Solvent extraction raises concerns related to toxicity, while the use of ion-exchange resins demands meticulous selection of suitable materials. In this review, we present a comprehensive review of the nickel removal methods used for nickel anolyte purification, electrochemical purification, chemical precipitation, solvent extraction, and ion-exchange resins. We also examine the suitability and benefits of each technique in industrial settings. The ion-exchange method has drawn significant attention due to its strong selectivity and small adsorption quantity. The ion-exchange separation process does not generate any slag, and the ion-exchange resin can be recycled and reused; this method has great potential in a wide range of applications.