Recovery of copper and tin from stripping tin solution by electrodeposition

Abstract In this paper, the method of recycling copper and tin by constant‐current and constant‐voltage electrolysis from the stripping tin solution of tinned copper wastes was studied. The experimental results show that the elements could be deposited on the cathode in turn by different deposition potentials, therefore, the copper and tin were separated by constant‐voltage electrolysis but not constant‐current electrolysis. In this study, the influence of anode materials was also investigated. Graphite anode is stable without impurities dissolved into the stripping tin solution, while 316 stainless steel anode is dissolved into Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ as anodic corrosion, which could decrease the deposition efficiency of tin. The copper and tin in the stripping tin solution are separated orderly by electrodeposition at different voltages using the graphite anode. The recovery rate of copper is up to 100 % at 2.00 V, while that of tin is 80 % at 3.00 V.