In this video, we easily create a simple copper sulfate cell and use it to create a pure beautiful copper crystal. Using a mixed metal node from computer scrap, we purify out the copper. Support us here: / lifebuzzn
If you or anyone else processes gold scrap, there's always left over copper nitrate. Copper nitrate also is a good electrolyte for using in a copper cell. It's also very cheap because it's just a waste chemical. I've tried the copper sulfate method and the nitrate method, and results are about the same, although the copper levels drop using sulfate and has to be replenished while using the cell. You can tell because the color in the cell lightens as you use up the copper.
You can start the cell with just water and sulphuric acid, the copper sulphate will evolve from that naturally. You can also separate the copper substrate from plated e-scrap pins this way, and get both copper crystals and gold foils in the same process. I use a titanium anode in the anode bag to deliver the electrical current. I call it the TAPP cell. (Titanium Anode Parting Process). So far, a 2kg copper crystal is the largest crystal I've grown.
@reprocessors I've used up almost all of my plated copper material, and have mainly plated phosphor bronze now. The tin in that alloy requires still another process in order to avoid issues.
Could pennies dated 1982/83 and newer be used for this or would the zinc also be transferred with the copper as well? I know that pre 82's are all copper and worth more than their face value as scrap now
If you use a stainless steel bowl with three contacts around the rim that connect to the central ground, you turn the entire bowl into the cathode. With less distance and more surface area to work with, you should speed things up quite a bit. You could also make an electrolyte from dissolving copper in a bit of Nitric acid, then diluting it down with distilled water. The lower ph will also conduct electricity better. At weakened concentrations, the bowl will be fine too.
That would form copper nitrate and since he didn't make the copper sulfate that would be incredibly stupid cause nitric acid is much more expensive and stainless steel would be a horrible cathode for this reaction
I have destroyed two stainless bowls with even a hint of nitrate, and because the plastic cover/plastic anode basket covers the level of the liquid from sight, and it's easy to get greedy about headspace when fighting for surface area and dunk a slightly too-volumnous piece of dirty copper in to be refined, and as soon as the surface of liquid hits the alligator clips, the bowl is toast
Perhaps you could make 2 buckets connected to eachother. So the pieces that break off don't mix with the contaminated pieces. You will be able to recover much more copper.
I tried that and it worked great. I also found that super saturating the copper sulfate solution and keeping it kinda warm with a small glass aquarium heater, it made the process go somewhat faster. Cover so no dust goes in. Just 1 volt at whatever current is ok too, but more copper sulfate is more current. This is also a great way to make dilute sulfuric acid, just use a graphite rod on the positive side,
Would this be good to extract copper from brass consisting of copper + zinc? Also, might suggest a current limit like a small lamp in one of the battery leads in case of a short-circuit!
Question…. Do you connect the whole 12 volt battery to the anode? Also can you reuse the anode? Also is there any additional process required before smelting the copper crystal?
in most processes the copper and other metals are taken out like in the video, but the gold is left in the anode. when this is done the metal bar would have a specific composition in order for the gold to have enough structural integrity to stay together.
Well why would anyone trust your comments. Copper anoid? Copper sulfite? Copper nitrate? You dont even know which chemistry it is. Title days copper sulfate.
"You're not lazy" Men are selectively lazy. They will put in so much work on something they enjoy. Then you have the slightly more lazy who will put in excessive work in order to reduce their workload in the future. Like, say, inventing a robot vacuum cleaner to avoid having to sweep the floor lol
