Characterization on the Electrochemical Property of the Ion Flotation Sludges After Thermal Treatment

Large volume of wastewaters with many kinds of metal contaminants were generated during the mineral beneficiation process in metal mines. Over 99% of metal ions can be readily removed via the chelation, flocculation, and flotation process, while vast flotation sludges with various metals are concomitantly produced. Metal oxides are usually used as electrode material, and this work investigated the characterization of the electrochemical property of the Cu/Fe ions flotation sludges after thermal treatment. Two kinds of CuFe2O4/CuO and CuFe2O4/Fe2O3 composite materials with good electrochemical properties were prepared from the flotation sludges after high-temperature roasting via adjusting the Cu/Fe molar ratio of wastewaters. The results show that these two composites are spherical-like polyhedral particles with uniform particle size and good dispersion. The first charge/discharge specific capacities of CuFe2O4/CuO and CuFe2O4/Fe2O3 were 693.8/1525.2 and 765.3/1152.5 mAh/g, and the average reversible specific capacities were 199.2 and 359.9 mAh/g at the current density of 0.1 A/g.