An optimization study on the cementation of silver with copper in nitrate solutions by Taguchi design

Silver cementation from nitrate containing solution using Taguchi methods was studied to understand and optimize silver cementation yield by considering design and rotation rate of the impeller, temperature and pH of the solution. In the experiments, 2, 4 and 6 blade impellers and 100, 200 and 300 RPM rotation rates were used. The solution pH values were selected as 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5, and the experiments were conducted at 30, 45 and 60 °C. The maximum silver recovery conditions were obtained when six-bladed impeller was rotated at a rate of 200 RPM in a solution pH of 0.5 at 30 °C. The silver cementation yields obtained by theoretically and experimentally were in good agreement, which were 99.1% and 99.2% respectively.