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. 2024 Sep 29;17(19):4790.
doi: 10.3390/ma17194790.

Coal to Clean: Comparing Advanced Electrodes for Desulfurization and Copper Recovery

Katarina R Pantović Spajić  1 , Marijana R Pantović Pavlović  2 , Srecko Stopic  3 , Vesna S Cvetković  2 , Nataša M Petrović  2 , Branislav Marković  1 , Miroslav M Pavlović  2
Affiliations

Coal to Clean: Comparing Advanced Electrodes for Desulfurization and Copper Recovery

Katarina R Pantović Spajić et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

This study explores the electrochemical desulfurization of coal and the recovery of copper (Cu) using dimensionally stable anode (DSA) electrodes.

Background: The research addresses the need for effective sulfur removal from coal to reduce emissions.

Methods: Electrochemical desulfurization was conducted using DSA and graphite electrodes, evaluating parameters like activation energy, desulfurization rate, and energy consumption. Cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry were used to study the electrochemical properties.

Results: The DSA electrode demonstrated superior performance with higher desulfurization rates, lower activation energy, and better response to temperature increases compared to the graphite electrode. Optimal desulfurization was achieved at 50 °C with the DSA electrode, balancing efficiency and energy consumption. Copper recovery from the solution post-desulfurization was effective, with an 86.34% recovery rate at -0.15 V vs. (Ag|AgCl). The energy consumption for the Cu recovery was calculated to be 10.56 J, and the total cost for recovering 1 ton of Cu was approximately 781.20 €.

Conclusions: The study highlights the advantages of DSA electrodes for efficient sulfur removal and metal recovery, promoting cleaner energy production and environmental sustainability. Future research should focus on optimizing electrochemical conditions and scaling up the process for industrial applications.

Keywords: coal treatment; copper recovery; dimensionally stable anode (DSA); electrochemical desulfurization; energy efficiency; graphite electrode; sulfur removal.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) LSV polarization curves for graphite anode and (b) LSV polarization curves for DSA anode at various temperatures. Arrhenius plots for (c) graphite and (d) DSA anodes for different anodic potentials.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Activation energy for graphite and DSA electrodes at various anode potentials, (b) desulfurization rate for graphite and DSA electrodes at various anode potentials, (c) total energy consumption and requirements for graphite and DSA anodes at various temperatures, (d) energy requirements for removal of kilogram of sulfur, and (e) increase of desulfurization per unit of energy.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cyclic voltammogram of the supernatant solution obtained from the electrochemical desulfurization of Bogovina Basin coal.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Linear sweep voltammograms (LSVs) of laboratory solutions containing (a) only copper (Cu) and (b) copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) after 5 min hold at −1.00 V.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Linear sweep voltammograms (LSVs) of the real supernatant solution obtained from the electrochemical desulfurization of the Bogovina coal. (a) LSV performed from −0.70 V after 5 min hold at −1.00 V and (b) LSV performed after holding the potential at −0.15 V for 5 min to allow Cu to be deposited on the cathode.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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