Novel strategy for copper precipitation from cupric complexes wastewater: Catalytic oxidation or reduction self-decomplexation?

Cupric (Cu(II)) complexes in industrial wastewater are responsible for the failure of conventional alkaline precipitation, but the properties of cuprous (Cu(I)) complexes at alkaline circumstance have not been focused. This report proposed a novel strategy for the remediation of Cu(II)-complexed wastewater by coupling alkaline precipitation with green benign reductant, namely, hydroxylamine hydrochloride (HA). This remediation process (HA-OH) exhibits superior Cu removal efficiency that cannot be achieved with the same dosage of oxidants (3 mM). The possibility of Cu(I) activated O catalysis and self-decomplexation precipitation were investigated, and the results identified that O was generated from Cu(II)/Cu(I) cycle, but it was insufficient to annihilate organic ligands. Cu(I) self-decomplexation was the dominate mechanism of Cu removal. For real industrial wastewater, HA-OH process can realize the efficient CuO precipitation and Cu recovery. This novel strategy utilized intrinsic pollutant in wastewater without introducing other metals, complicated materials, and expensive equipment, broadening the insight for the remediation of Cu(II)-complexed wastewater.