minerals

Article
Separation of Copper from Electric Cable Waste Based
on Mineral Processing Methods: A Case Study
Fernando Pita * and Ana Castilho
Geosciences Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra,
3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal; [email protected]
* Correspondence: [email protected]




Received: 19 September 2018; Accepted: 6 November 2018; Published: 8 November 2018


Abstract: Recycling of electrical cable waste requires a separation between the metal and the insulating
material. The objective of this work was to separate the copper from the plastic in electrical cable
waste previously ground below 2 mm, using jigging, shaking table and froth flotation techniques.
The effect of particle size was also analysed. Jigging and shaking table proved to be effective in
the separation of copper from plastics. The result was a copper concentrate with a copper grade of
about 97% by both methods and a copper recovery of about 97%. Jigging separation had similar
separation efficiencies in the seven-sized fractions, but in shaking table, the separation efficiency
improved with an increase in particles size. The separation achieved by froth flotation had lower
efficiencies (85%), because plastics are naturally hydrophobic and copper presents some hydrophobic
behaviour. In this technique, the addition of depressant agents was mandatory for the depression
of copper, even at low concentrations. The best results were obtained with concentrations of
10−1 mg/L of sodium sulfide (407410 Sigma-Aldrich, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, St. Louis, MO, USA)
and meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (D7881 Sigma-Aldrich).

Keywords: cable waste; copper; jigging; shaking table; froth flotation; particle size

1. Introduction
Proper waste management is one of the major environmental concerns of public institutions.
Waste management systems cover all actions that seek to recover and recycle materials, looking at
waste as a resource, in order to prevent health and environmental problems and to conserve natural
resources, reducing the cost of production of many products, such as metals, plastics, glass and paper.
It is not difficult to recycle clean and homogeneous waste, but problems occur when waste is
constituted by different materials. One of those composite products is the waste of electrical cables.
Electrical cables are composed of a conductor, mostly a copper wire, with a plastic insulation cover.
Copper is the most valuable component of the cable that can be recycled. However, the recycling of
the cable insulator materials, with lower value, can also be performed.
Copper comes from two sources: extraction and processing (refining) of raw materials, called primary
production; and recycling of end-of-life products, called secondary production. In the last decades,
the world mining production of copper has grown by 3.2% per annum to 20 million tonnes in 2017 and
its largest producer was Chile (5.6 million tonnes). The total global demand for copper in 2016 was
approximately 25 million tonnes and China was its largest consumer with nearly 12 million tonnes [1].
Copper is one of the most recycled metals. It is estimated that in 2016, about 29% of the copper
used came from recycled copper and around 40% of the demand for copper within Europe was
supplied from recycled copper [1].
In recent years, several separation technologies developed in mineral processing engineering,
based on the differences in physical and chemical properties, have been applied to separate metals

Minerals 2018, 8, 517; doi:10.3390/min8110517 www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals

Minerals 2018, 8, 517 2 of 12

and non-metals from electric and electronic waste. Several studies have reviewed the progress and
the potential of the available techniques, for the recovery of metals and non-metals from electric and
electronic waste [2–8]. These technologies include the application of physical separation, such as gravity
methods [9–12]; magnetic separation [13–15]; electrostatic separation by the corona method [13,16,17];
electrical conductivity (Eddy currents) methods [18–20] and froth flotation [11,21–23].
Some of these studies intended to improve the separation of electrical and electronic waste through
the use of physical/mechanical means. Two of these processes are gravity separation (especially jigging
and shaking table) where the separation is based upon the density difference of materials, and froth
flotation where the separation is based upon the hydrophobicity difference of materials.
In jigging, a mixture of solid-water is placed at the bottom of a perforated vessel (jig), through
which vertical currents of water are forced, expanding (ascending currents) or compacting (descending
currents) the pulsating bed. This promotes particle stratification based on density differences between
the constituents of the mixture. The densest particles are kept in the base of the stratum, inside the
jigging cell, while the particles with low density move to the superficial layers, being overflowed.
In shaking table, particle separation occurs by the action of backwards and forwards motion
(stroke) of the table and by the action of wash water applied along the length of the table. Vertical
stratification takes place behind the riffles, with the finest and denser particles being at the bottom,
whereas the coarsest and least dense particles remain at the top. Heavy particles are concentrated
behind the riffles and move at the upper part of the table, while light particles move downwards the
incline of the table with the majority of the water to be discharged at the bottom as tailings.
Froth flotation is the separation method most used in the mining industry. It takes advantage of
the selective adhesion of hydrophobic particles to the air and of the hydrophilic particles to the water
in a solid/water pulp. The separation takes place in a container (cell or column), filled with water
and solid particles, and where air is continuously injected to produce air bubbles. Small quantities
of chemical reagents are added to control the hydrophobicity of the particles. Hydrophobic particles
adhere, after collision with the air bubbles, and move upwards to the top of the cell where they are
collected while hydrophilic particles settle or sink.
This study aims to compare the separation of copper and plastics from electrical cable waste
through the use of jigging, shaking table and froth flotation. The effect of particle size on separation
efficiency was also investigated.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Materials
Granules of electrical cables waste, from multiple copper wires with plastic insulators that had
been previously crushed, were used in this experiment. The degree of liberation is 100%, i.e., all copper
and plastic particles are completely liberated. The single copper wire had a diameter of 0.15 mm.
The density of the copper wires, measured by an Ultra Pycnometer (AccuPyc 1330, Micromeritics,
Norcross, GA, USA), was 8.84 g/cm3 and the density of plastic was 1.34 g/cm3 . The particles were
sieved into seven-sized fractions: −0.25 mm, +0.25–0.35 mm, +0.35–0.5 mm, +0.5–0.7, +0.7–1.0 mm,
+1.0–1.4 and +1.4–2 mm (Table 1). The mean size of the mixed particles (d50 from cumulative frequency
plot) was 0.59 mm. The mean size of copper particles was 0.33 mm and the mean size of plastic
particles was 1.03 mm. Most of the copper particles have sizes below 0.5 mm (88.6% by weight) against
plastic particles that have sizes greater than 0.5 mm (about 84.5% by weight).
Minerals 2018, 8, 517 3 of 12

Table 1. Size and assay distribution of copper and plastic of granulates electrical cable waste.

Grade (%) Distribution (%)

Size (mm) Weight (%)
Cu Plastic Cu Plastic
<0.25 14.0 79.6 20.4 27.2 4.8
0.25–0.35 14.1 80.6 19.4 27.8 4.6
0.35–0.50 17.3 79.1 20.9 33.6 6.1
0.50–0.7 11.5 25.1 74.9 7.1 14.5
0.7–1.0 12.1 10.3 89.7 3.0 18.3
1.0–1.4 13.0 3.3 96.7 1.1 21.3
1.4–2 18.0 0.4 99.7 0.2 30.3
Total 100.0 40.8 59.2 100.00 100.0

2.2. Jigging
Tests were carried out in a Denver laboratory jig, with a rectangular section of 10 cm × 15 cm
and a bottom of steel wire screen. The frequency of the diaphragm movement was 250 cycles/minute,
and in each test, 1.5 kg of material was used. The total time of a test was about 15 min. For investigating
the effect of the water flow rate in the separation of the copper/plastic mixture by jigging, three tests
were conducted (with a water flow rate of 2, 3 and 4 L/min). Since plastic has a lower density than
copper, plastic is overflowed, and copper is kept inside the jigging cell. The product that overflows in
the jigging operation will be designated as floated and the one that remains inside will be designated
as sink. After the experiments, the sink was removed from the jig.

2.3. Shaking Table

Tests were carried out in a laboratory Wilfley table, with a rectangular shape of 1.25 m length and
0.55 m width. It is partially riffled alongside the table motion, and riffles are 4 mm high on the feed
side, decreasing toward the concentrate edge, and the gap between riffles is 15 mm. There are two
water supply points: feed water (near the feed box) and wash water. Particles build up behind each
riffle and stratification occurs with heavier particles sinking to the bottom. The shaking action of the
table carries the heavy particles along the back of each riffle to the concentrate discharge, which will be
designated as sink. The light particles are carried with the majority of the water over each riffle and
move down the table to the tailings zone, which will be designated as floated. Multiple products can
be produced in the wet shaking table by adding splitters. In this work, three products were generated
(“light”, “heavy” and “middling”) by adjusting two splitters. However, after a first pass through the
table, the middling product returned once again to the table in order to separate the copper from the
plastics. It is expected that the light product will be enriched in plastic and the heavy product will be
enriched in copper.
The separation on shaking table is controlled by many operating parameters (inclination, wash
water flow rate, feed water flow rate, frequency and amplitude of table movement, feed pulp density).
In this work, inclination and wash water flow were analysed (Table 2). In each test 2.5 kg of material
were used. The frequency (300 cycles/minute), amplitude of table movement (8 mm), feed water flow
rate (2 L/min) and position of the splitters were kept constant during all experiments.

Table 2. Range of the parameters selected for the shaking table study.

Parameters Range
Inclination (◦ ) 4 5.5 7
Wash water flow rate (L/min) 3 4.5 6
Minerals 2018, 8, 517 4 of 12

2.4. Froth Flotation

The froth flotation assays took place in a Denver cell with a capacity of 3 dm3 at a low
rotational speed of 600 rpm. Each test used 50 g of electric cable waste that was conditioned with
sodium sulfide (407410 Sigma-Aldrich) and meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (D7881 Sigma-Aldrich),
as depressants agents of copper, for about 5 min and later with methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC)
(109916 Sigma Aldrich), as frothing reagent, for about 2 min before the flotation. Then the air valve
was opened, and the floated product was collected for about 6 min. Tap water was used in the
flotation tests.
After the experiments of jigging, shaking table and froth flotation, the floated and sink products
were dried, screened and weighed. The separation was controlled using the recovery and grade
of copper and plastic in the sink and in the floated products, after manual sorting and weighing,
the copper and plastic with a laboratory scale (precision ±0.01 g). All the experiments were replicate
three times under similar operating conditions. The effectiveness of the plastic separation was
quantified as η = RCU − RPL (where η is the separation efficiency, RCU is the recovery of copper
in the sink and RPL is the recovery of plastic in the sink) [24].

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Jigging
The recovery and grade of copper in the sink (concentrate), and the recovery and grade of plastic
in the floated (tailings), as well as the separation efficiency were influenced by the water flow rate
(Table 3).

Table 3. Experimental matrix and results of jigging separation (average of three replicates).

Sink Floated
Water Flow Separation
Rate (L/min) Copper Copper Plastic Plastic Efficiency (%)
Recovery (%) Grade (%) Recovery (%) Grade (%)
2 98.4 91.6 93.8 98.8 92.2
3 97.8 96.7 97.7 98.5 95.5
4 94.6 97.8 98.5 96.4 93.1

The recovery of copper and plastic in the sink decreased with increasing water flow rate.
The highest recovery of copper in the sink (98.4%) was obtained for the lowest water flow rate
(2 L/min). On the contrary, the highest recovery of plastic in the floated (98.5%) was obtained for
the greatest water flow rate (4 L/min). By increasing the water flow rate from 2 to 3 L/min the
recovery of copper in the sink was almost constant, but the grade of copper increased, because the
recovery of plastic in the sink decreased. However, by increasing the water flow rate from 3 to
4 L/min, the recovery of copper in the sink decreased, and the recovery of plastic in the floated was
almost constant.
The highest separation efficiency (95.5%) was obtained with an intermediate water flow rate
of 3 L/min, with a copper recovery of 97.8%. Sarvar et al. [23] obtained similar results in wet
jigging separation of metals from computer printed circuit boards of the 0.59–1.68 mm size fraction,
with a metal recovery in the sink of 97.5% and a metal grade of 92.5%. Also, He et al. [12] separated
the same material but with an active pulsing air classifier, achieving a maximum separation efficiency
of 92.4% and a metal recovery of 96.2%.

3.2. Shaking Table

To evaluate the effect of inclination and wash water flow rate in the separation of copper/plastic
mixture by wet shaking table, nine tests sets were performed (Table 4). The grade and recovery
of copper in the sink (concentrate zone), the grade and recovery of plastic in the floated (tailings
Minerals 2018, 8, 517 5 of 12

Minerals 2018, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 5 of 12

zone), and the separation efficiency were strongly influenced by the table inclination and wash water
Table 4. Experimental matrix and results of shaking table separation (average of three replicates).
flow rate.
Experimental Conditions matrix and resultsSink
Table 4. Experimental Floatedof three replicates).
of shaking table separation (average Separation
Inclination Wash Water Flow Copper Copper Plastic Plastic Efficiency
(°) Experimental RateConditions
(L/min) Recovery (%)Sink Grade (%) Recovery Floated
(%) Grade (%)Separation(%)
4Inclination (◦ ) Wash 3 Water Flow Copper
99.7 Copper
68.8 Plastic
68.8 Plastic 99.7 Efficiency (%)
68.6
Rate (L/min) Recovery (%) Grade (%) Recovery (%) Grade (%)
4 4.5 97.7 81.0 84.2 98.1 81.9
4 3 99.7 68.8 68.8 99.7 68.6
4 4
6 4.5
84.8
97.7
87.4
81.0 84.2
91.6 98.1
89.7 81.9
76.4
5.5 4 3 6 98.5
84.8 83.5
87.4 91.686.6 89.7 98.8 76.4 85.1
5.5 5.5 4.5 3 98.5
96.6 83.5
97.4 86.698.2 98.8 97.7 85.1 94.8
5.5 4.5 96.6 97.4 98.2 97.7 94.8
5.5 5.5 6 6 72.8
72.8 99.1
99.1 99.699.6 84.2 84.2 72.4 72.4
7 7 3 3 75.2
75.2 90.5
90.5 94.594.5 84.7 84.7 69.7 69.7
7 4.5 62.1 99.4 99.8 79.8 62.9
7 4.5 62.1 99.4 99.8 79.8 62.9
7 6 35.7 100.0 100.0 69.3 35.7
7 6 35.7 100.0 100.0 69.3 35.7

The
Thehighest
highestrecovery
recovery of copper
of copper in theinsink
the(99.7%) was obtained
sink (99.7%) with the lowest
was obtained with thetablelowest
inclination
table
and the lowest
inclination wash
and the water
lowest flow rate.water
wash The highest recovery
flow rate. The of plasticrecovery
highest in the floated (100%)in
of plastic was
theobtained
floated
with
(100%)a maximum
was obtained of table
withinclination
a maximum andofwash
tablewater flow rate.
inclination andAs washthe water
table inclination
flow rate. or Asthethewash
table
water flow rate increased, the transport of copper to the floated product
inclination or the wash water flow rate increased, the transport of copper to the floated product increased, which in turn
decreased
increased,the recovery
which in turnof copper
decreased in the thesink product.
recovery Moreover,
of copper as the
in the table
sink inclination
product. or the as
Moreover, wash
the
water flow rate increased, the transport of plastic to the floated
table inclination or the wash water flow rate increased, the transport of plastic to the floatedproduct increased which, in turn,
improved the gradewhich,
product increased of copper in the
in turn, sink product.
improved the grade of copper in the sink product.
The best separation efficiency
The best separation efficiency (near 95%) (near 95%) was obtained
was obtained for intermediate levels of table
for intermediate levelsinclination
of table
of 5.5 ◦ and wash water flow rate of 4.5 L/min, with a copper grade of 97% in the sink and a copper
inclination of 5.5° and wash water flow rate of 4.5 L/min, with a copper grade of 97% in the sink
recovery
and a copper of 96.6% (Table 4).
recovery of These
96.6%results
(Tablewere better results
4). These than thewere ones better
obtainedthan by the
Koyanaka et al. [9] by
ones obtained in
the separation of copper/plastic mixture using an inclined vibrating
Koyanaka et al. [9] in the separation of copper/plastic mixture using an inclined vibrating plate, plate, getting a separation
efficiency of 73%, a copper
getting a separation grade
efficiency of of
73%,97%a and
coppera copper
grade recovery
of 97% and of about
a copper80%. recovery of about 80%.
The
The effect of table inclination depends on the value of wash water flow rate
effect of table inclination depends on the value of wash water flow rate and
and vice
vice versa
versa
(Figure 1). When wash water flow rate was at the highest level (6
(Figure 1). When wash water flow rate was at the highest level (6 L/min), a change in table L/min), a change in table inclination
level had a greater
inclination level had effect on copper
a greater effectrecovery
on copperthanrecovery
the one observed
than the when wash water
one observed when flow was water
wash at its
lowest level (3 L/min) (Figure 1a). For plastic recovery, the opposite was
flow was at its lowest level (3 L/min) (Figure 1a). For plastic recovery, the opposite was observed, observed, with a higher effect
of table
with inclination
a higher effectwhen wash
of table water flow
inclination whenratewash
was at a lower
water flowlevel
rate (Figure
was at a1b).
lower level (Figure 1b).
When ◦
When table table inclination
inclination was was at at the
the highest
highest level
level (7 ), aa change
(7°), change in in wash
wash water
water flow
flow rate
rate had
had aa
greater effect in copper recovery than the one observed when table
greater effect in copper recovery than the one observed when table inclination was set at its lowestinclination was set at its lowest
level ◦
level (4(4°)) (Figure
(Figure 1c).
1c). For
For plastic
plastic recovery,
recovery, the the opposite
opposite was was observed,
observed, withwith aa higher
higher effect
effect of
of wash
wash
water flow rate when table inclination was set at a lower
water flow rate when table inclination was set at a lower level (Figure 1d). level (Figure 1d).

Figure 1. Cont.
Minerals 2018, 8, 517 6 of 12
Minerals 2018, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 of 12

Figure1.1.Effect
Figure of interaction
Effect between
of interaction tabletable
between inclination and wash
inclination and water
wash flow rateflow
water on copper recovery
rate on copper
(a,c) and on
recovery plastic
(a,c) and recovery
on plastic(b,d).
recovery (b,d).

3.3. Froth Flotation

3.3. Froth Flotation
Firstly, flotation separation tests were carried out with only a frother reagent (MIBC). Figure 2
Firstly, flotation separation tests were carried out with only a frother reagent (MIBC). Figure 2
shows the recovery and grade of copper in the sink (concentrate) and plastics recovery and grade in
shows the recovery and grade of copper in the sink (concentrate) and plastics recovery and grade in
the floated (tailing) versus MIBC concentration. Although the flotation recovery of plastic was clearly
the floated (tailing) versus MIBC concentration. Although the flotation recovery of plastic was
greater than the copper recovery, the flotation recovery of copper was significant, and so the selectivity
clearly greater than the copper recovery, the flotation recovery of copper was significant, and so the
of flotation separation
selectivity of flotationwas not good.was
separation Plastics
not are naturally
good. hydrophobic,
Plastics are naturallyandhydrophobic,
their flotation and
recovery
their
isflotation
high. Plastic and is
recovery copper
high. showed a similar
Plastic and coppervariation
showedofathe floatability
similar with
variation ofMIBC concentration.
the floatability with
So, the effect
MIBC of the froth
concentration. So,type, for different
the effect MIBC
of the froth concentrations,
type, for different influenced in the flotation
MIBC concentrations, a similar
influenced in
way to the plastic and copper. Plastic and copper had higher floatabilities with intermediate
the flotation a similar way to the plastic and copper. Plastic and copper had higher floatabilities MIBC
with intermediate MIBC concentrations (90 mg/L). The lowest recovery of plastic and copper was
obtained for the lowest and highest concentration of MIBC (15 and 180 mg/L). This was a
Minerals 2018, 8, 517 7 of 12

Minerals 2018, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 7 of 12

concentrations (90 mg/L). The lowest recovery of plastic and copper was obtained for the lowest and
highest concentration
consequence of MIBC (15
of the formation of and
weak180 mg/L).
froth, for This
low was a consequence
concentrations of the formation
of MIBC (15 mg/L),ofand
weak a
froth, for low of
consequence concentrations of MIBC
the formation (15 mg/L),
of a very and stable
thick and a consequence of the
froth that hadformation
limited theof arise
veryofthick
the
and stable
particles forfroth
highthat had limited of
concentrations theMIBC
rise of(180
the mg/L).
particles for high concentrations of MIBC (180 mg/L).

Figure 2.
Figure Recovery and
2. Recovery and grade
grade of
of copper
copper in
in the
the sink
sink and
and of
of plastic
plastic in
in the
the floated,
floated, and
and separation
separation
efficiency versus MIBC concentration.
efficiency versus MIBC concentration.

The best results were obtained with an intermediate concentration of MIBC (90 mg/L) with a copper
The best results were obtained with an intermediate concentration of MIBC (90 mg/L) with a
grade of 84.6% in the sink (Figure 2). Copper recovery in the sink was 71.2% and plastic recovery in the
copper grade of 84.6% in the sink (Figure 2). Copper recovery in the sink was 71.2% and plastic
floated was 91.1%. These results were better than those obtained by Ogunniyi and Vermaak [21] in a study
recovery in the floated was 91.1%. These results were better than those obtained by Ogunniyi and
for beneficiation of printed circuit boards by froth flotation, where the maximum copper recovery in the
Vermaak [21] in a study for beneficiation of printed circuit boards by froth flotation, where the
sink was 66%. Also, Sarvar et al. [23] in froth flotation separation of metals from computer printed circuit
maximum copper recovery in the sink was 66%. Also, Sarvar et al. [23] in froth flotation separation
boards of size fractions lower than 0.59 mm, obtained worse results, with a metal recovery in the sink
of metals from computer printed circuit boards of size fractions lower than 0.59 mm, obtained
of 85.7%,
worse a metal
results, withgrade of 75%,
a metal and a separation
recovery in the sinkefficiency
of 85.7%,ofa45.25%. However,
metal grade theseand
of 75%, results were not
a separation
as good as those
efficiency obtainedHowever,
of 45.25%. by Gallegos-Acevedo
these results et al. were
[22], in not
a study
as for beneficiation
good as thoseof printed
obtained circuit
by
boards by froth flotation, where the maximum separation efficiency was 85.32%, the
Gallegos-Acevedo et al. [22], in a study for beneficiation of printed circuit boards by froth flotation, metal recovery in the
sink was
where the92.62%
maximumand the fiberglassefficiency
separation recovery in the85.32%,
was floated was 92.70%.recovery in the sink was 92.62%
the metal
Since copper presented some hydrophobic
and the fiberglass recovery in the floated was 92.70%. behaviour, because part of it was floated, it was
necessary
Since copper presented some hydrophobic behaviour, becauseitspart
to test some copper depressants in order to promote wettability
of it wasand consequent
floated, it was
depression. After the use of some potential copper depressants such as
necessary to test some copper depressants in order to promote its wettability and consequentN-(1-Naphthyl)ethylenediamine
dihydrochloride
depression. After(N9125 theSigma-Aldrich),
use of starch potential
some (S4251 Sigma-Aldrich),
copper sodium metabisulfite
depressants such as
(255556 Sigma-Aldrich), sodium sulfide (407410 Sigma-Aldrich)
N-(1-Naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (N9125 Sigma-Aldrich), starch (S4251 and meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic
acid (D7881 Sigma-Aldrich),
Sigma-Aldrich), it was found that
sodium metabisulfite these last
(255556 two reagents ledsodium
Sigma-Aldrich), to the best results,(407410
sulfide having
depressed almost all copper.
Sigma-Aldrich) and meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (D7881 Sigma-Aldrich), it was found that
theseFigure
last two3 shows
reagents theled
recovery and grade
to the best results,ofhaving
copperdepressed
in the sink,almost
recovery and grade of plastic in the
all copper.
floated and separation efficiency versus concentration of
Figure 3 shows the recovery and grade of copper in the sink, recovery these two copper depressor
and gradeagents (sodium
of plastic in
sulfide and meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid), with an MIBC concentration
the floated and separation efficiency versus concentration of these two copper depressor agents of 90 mg/L. The two
depressorsulfide
(sodium agentsand showed similar effects on the floatability
meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid), with of copper.
an MIBC Flotation recovery
concentration of of
90copper
mg/L.
decreased with the increase of the two depressants concentration. These
The two depressor agents showed similar effects on the floatability of copper. Flotation recovery depressor agents had low of
effects on plastic flotation, with only a significant decrease in plastic
copper decreased with the increase of the two depressants concentration. These depressor agentsflotation observed at a high
concentration
had low effectsofonsodium
plastic sulfide.
flotation,Recovery
with only of acopper in thedecrease
significant sink is about 98%flotation
in plastic for a concentration
observed atof a
10 mg/L of the two depressor agents.
high concentration of sodium sulfide. Recovery of copper in the sink is about 98% for a
The best separations were −1 mg/L concentration of the two depressor agents,
concentration of 10 mg/L of the obtained with 10
two depressor agents.
withThe
the highest separation
best separations efficiencies
were obtained(nearwith85%). For this
10−1 mg/L depressor concentration
concentration and for the
of the two depressor two
agents,
with the highest separation efficiencies (near 85%). For this depressor concentration and for the two
depressor agents, we obtained a sink with a grade of 87% in copper and a copper recovery of about
95% (Figure 3).
Minerals 2018, 8, 517 8 of 12

depressor agents, we obtained a sink with a grade of 87% in copper and a copper recovery of about
95% (Figure
Minerals 2018, 8,3).
x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 12

Figure 3.
Figure Recovery
3. Recovery andand grade
grade of plastic
of plastic in theinfloated,
the floated, recovery
recovery andofgrade
and grade ofincopper
copper in and
the sink, the
sink, and separation efficiency versus sodium sulfide (a) and meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic
separation efficiency versus sodium sulfide (a) and meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (b) acid
(b) concentration.
concentration.

Considering the flotation test that led to the best results, that is, in the presence of sodium sulfide
Considering the flotation test that led to the best results, that is, in the presence of sodium
at a concentration of 10−1 mg/L, and comparing the three separation methods, it was verified that
sulfide at a concentration of 10−1 mg/L, and comparing the three separation methods, it was verified
froth flotation presented smaller separation efficiencies than jigging and shaking table. Jigging and
that froth flotation presented smaller separation efficiencies than jigging and shaking table. Jigging
shaking table separations led to similar results, with a separation efficiency of about 95%. Recovery of
and shaking table separations led to similar results, with a separation efficiency of about 95%.
copper in the froth flotation was slightly smaller than the recovery of copper in the jigging and shaking
Recovery of copper in the froth flotation was slightly smaller than the recovery of copper in the
table. Also, the recovery of plastic in the froth flotation was smaller than the recovery of plastic in the
jigging and shaking table. Also, the recovery of plastic in the froth flotation was smaller than the
jigging and shaking table. The copper grade of the sink in jigging and shaking table was about 97%
recovery of plastic in the jigging and shaking table. The copper grade of the sink in jigging and
with a copper recovery of about 97%, and the copper grade of the sink in froth flotation was 86.9%
shaking table was about 97% with a copper recovery of about 97%, and the copper grade of the sink
with a copper recovery of 95.1%.
in froth flotation was 86.9% with a copper recovery of 95.1%.
3.4. Effect of Particle Size in the Three Methods of Separation
3.4. Effect of Particle Size in the Three Methods of Separation
The size of the particles is an important factor in the separation by froth flotation and by gravity.
The size of the particles is an important factor in the separation by froth flotation and by
Hence, the influence of the particle size in the separation of a copper/plastic mixture by the three
gravity. Hence, the influence of the particle size in the separation of a copper/plastic mixture by the
three methods was analysed. The results of jigging, shaking table and froth flotation tests that led to
better separations, for seven-sized fractions, are presented in Table 5.
Minerals 2018, 8, 517 9 of 12

methods was analysed. The results of jigging, shaking table and froth flotation tests that led to better
separations, for seven-sized fractions, are presented in Table 5.

Table 5. Results of separation by jigging, shaking table and flotation of the copper/plastic mixture,
for seven-sized fractions.

Sink Floated Separation

Size Fraction
Copper Copper Plastic Plastic Efficiency
(mm)
Recovery (%) Grade (%) Recovery (%) Grade (%) (SE) (%)

<0.25 96.2 99.8 99.4 87.1 95.6

+0.25–0.35 98.1 99.7 98.9 92.5 97.0
+0.35–0.5 98.7 99.6 98.6 95.2 97.3
Jigging

+0.5–0.7 98.5 93.9 97.9 99.5 96.4

+0.7–1.0 98.4 82.7 97.7 99.8 96.1
+1.0–1.4 98.3 58.0 97.6 99.9 95.9
+1.4–2.0 98.6 10.4 97.0 100.0 95.6
<0.25 93.9 98.3 93.5 79.9 87.4
Shaking table

+0.25–0.35 97.3 98.6 94.4 89.2 91.7

+0.35–0.5 97.8 98.7 95.1 92.1 92.9
+0.5–0.7 97.7 90.5 96.6 99.2 94.3
+0.7–1.0 97.8 90.6 98.8 99.8 96.6
+1.0–1.4 98.1 85.1 99.4 99.9 97.5
+1.4–2.0 98.7 50.4 99.7 100.0 98.4
<0.25 90.4 100.0 100.0 72.8 90.4
Froth flotation

+0.25–0.35 95.6 99.6 98.4 84.4 94.0

+0.35–0.5 97.0 99.3 97.3 89.6 94.3
+0.5–0.7 98.0 89.7 96.2 99.3 93.2
+0.7–1.0 99.3 69.2 94.9 99.9 94.2
+1.0–1.4 100.0 29.9 92.1 100.0 92.1
+1.4–2.0 100.0 1.62 78.6 100.0 78.6

In jigging, the recovery of copper in the sink was the lowest for the finer fraction and the recovery
of plastic in the floated slightly increased with increasing particles size (Table 5). While in the jigging
separation of ores, the finer particles of the heaviest mineral were in the lower strata of the jigging
bed, in the case of copper the opposite was observed. During the bed expansion, the finest particles
of copper and plastic were more easily elevated in the jigging bed than the coarser ones, making
them more prone to overflow. Jigging separation of the copper/plastic mixture had similar separation
efficiencies in the seven-sized fractions (Table 5). For all size fractions, the separation efficiency values
changed less than 2%, with separation efficiencies of about 96%. For the three finer fractions, the sink
was a product of almost pure copper, and for the four coarser fractions, the floated was a product of
almost pure plastic.
In shaking table, plastic recovery in the floated increased with increasing particles size (Table 5).
In the shaking table separation of ores, the finer particles were in the lower strata of the table bed.
During the stratification operated in the shaking table, the coarser particles of plastic occupied the
upper strata and were, therefore, more easily carried by the wash water into the floated. However,
recovery of copper in the sink was lowest for the finer fraction, i.e., the recovery of copper in the
floated was highest for the finer fraction. The separation efficiency slightly improved with an increase
in particles size. For the four coarser fractions, the floated was a product of almost pure plastic.
In the flotation tests, the copper and plastic recovery in the sink increased with increasing particles
size. Other authors also verified that small plastic particles are easier to float than coarse ones [25–28].
Moreover, Sarvar et al. [23] verified that metal recovery in the floated decreased with increasing
particles size.
Separation by froth flotation was not as effective as the other two methods for the coarser
particles because of the greater weight and size of the particles and the depression of plastic.
Also, the plastic-bubble aggregates may not be as stable in the coarser fractions as in the finer ones [29].
That could arise, to a certain extent, from the disintegration of the bubble-plastic particle aggregates
Minerals 2018, 8, 517 10 of 12

formed under the conditions of the flotation method used (flotation cell). Bubbles attached on the
surface of plastics are subjected to shear forces and pressure changes under turbulent conditions,
which can cause the disintegration of the plastic-bubble aggregates. In this case, such particles are not
able to escape from the main flow in the flotation cell [29]. In fact, studies show that floated recovery
of plastics decreased with increased mixing speed in the flotation cell [29–32]. It has also been found
that large particles are more affected than small ones. Fraunholcz [29] affirmed that pneumatically
aerated low-turbulence flotation devices (like flotation columns), are more suitable for the flotation of
plastics than flotation machines, because they provide the quiescent conditions required for bubble
particle adhesion.
Lower sink copper recovery in the finer fractions was due to fine-sized particles, which are more
easily entrained in the froth flotation. The intermediate size fractions presented separation efficiencies
of around 94%. For the three finer fractions, the sink presented a product almost pure in copper,
because the recovery of plastic in the floated was high. For the coarser fraction, the sink presented a
low copper grade, because the recovery of plastic in the sink was significant (21.4%) and the copper
content in that size fraction of the feed was low (0.4%).

4. Conclusions
Separation of copper from plastic in electric cable waste was successfully achieved by jigging and
shaking table, presenting a separation efficiency of about 95%. In both methods, it was possible to
obtain a sink product with a copper grade of 97% and a copper recovery of 97%, and a floated product
with a plastic grade of about 98% and a plastic recovery of 98%. In jigging separation, the influence of
particle size was minimal, but in shaking table, the separation efficiency was slightly improved by the
increase in particles size, and the maximum separation efficiency occurred in the coarser fraction.
Results showed that plastic was naturally floatable, and copper presented some natural
floatability. The best flotation separations were obtained in the presence of sodium sulfide and
meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid, which decreased copper floatability. In the tested conditions,
froth flotation was not as effective as jigging and shaking table, nevertheless, it led to a separation
efficiency of 85%. Separation by froth flotation presented the worst results for the coarser particles,
with a separation efficiency of 79%. This was a consequence of the lower floatability of the coarser
plastic particles, because they are more difficult to float and also less stable with turbulent flowing
conditions. For the others size fractions, the flotation presented separation efficiencies similar to the
shaking table and jigging.
The results obtained showed that jigging, shaking table and flotation are potential methods for
separating copper/plastics mixtures. Furthermore, the control of particle size is important in the
separation of this mixture by shaking table and froth flotation. In the three separation methods, for the
three fine fractions, the sink was a product of almost pure copper, and for the four coarse fractions,
the floated was a product of almost pure plastic.
In the future, the authors intend to use a flotation column to test the separation of copper and
plastic mixtures with coarse particles.

Author Contributions: F.P. conceived and designed the experiments; F.P. and A.C. analysed the data; F.P. wrote
the original draft; F.P. and A.C. revised and edited the manuscript.
Funding: This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT-MEC)
through national funds and, when applicable, co-financed by FEDER in the ambit of the partnership PT2020,
through the following research projects: UID/Multi/00073/2013 of the Geosciences Center of the University
of Coimbra.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Minerals 2018, 8, 517 11 of 12

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