Copper extraction from deep eutectic solvent as atacamite by hydrolysis method

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have garnered as promising alternatives to conventional solvents for metal extraction due to their facile synthesis, high chloride concentration, non-aqueous nature, and low cost. This work explores a green route for ultrafast extraction of atacamite [Cu2Cl(OH)3] from a deep eutectic solvent at room temperature in a short time using copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate as a precursor. The phase, chemical, morphological, and structural properties of the extracted atacamite were investigated using XRD, Rietveld method, SEM-EDX, and FTIR techniques. As a result of XRD analysis, it was determined that the atacamite with an average diameter of 85.59 mu m has an orthorhombic crystal structure. Also, it was determined that the crystal structure parameters obtained from XRD and the theoretical calculations of these values were in good agreement according to the Rietveld refinement. SEM/EDX analysis showed that the extracted atacamite particles exhibited heterogeneity in terms of size and morphology, while elemental composition was found to be homogeneous throughout the particles. UV-Vis analysis and theoretical calculations, the optical band of atacamite particles was found as 2.72 eV. Also, this study demonstrates that the hydrolysis method can serve as an efficient, low-energy pathway for the recovery of metals from DESs, highlighting its potential as a novel approach in copper metallurgy.