The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Separation of Copper from Nickel

I have copper plated thin Nickel sheets. How do I separate Nickel and copper most economically? The scrap value of composite is very poor while if I can separate Nickel and copper, I can get better value of scrap. The thickness of copper is about 50 microns max and Nickel is 150-178 microns. The bonding is too good to be separated mechanically.

Kaushik Magiawala
plating shop employee - Gandhinagar, India
2006

---

Because the nickel is more valuable and three to four times as thick, it sounds better to strip the copper from the nickel than vice versa. But I think it will be uneconomical and wasteful of chemicals to try to chemically remove the copper. Electrolytic removal at low voltage might be more feasible. But the best use of your time still may be to keep searching for a scrap dealer or refiner who will take it the way it is.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006

I have a alloy contained 80% copper and 20% nickel and leached anodically in sulfuric acid. how can I separate Nickel from Copper electrically? this process must be economic. thanks.

Parisa Shei
university - Iran
April 21, 2010