Copper electroplating solution

As the title really. I have been asked by a third party if there is any demand for 20% copper sulphate solution (in dilute sulphuric acid) for electro forming/plating.

Don’t know the location as yet, but it might well help out someone doing this sort of thing.

I use it as a marking out medium. Paint it on and magically watch steel turn to copper! a scribed line shows up really well and is not washed off by oil/coolant. I still use marking blue for aluminium though. Got about half a pint left from an original two pint stock about 20 years ago.

Probably have to be transported by licenced courier though as it is dangerous for the 'elfins.

Martin

Hopefully someone here can take it away to use. Plate the copper out and you have a pickling fluid.

If he ends up having to dispose ot it, one way might be to plate the worst of the copper out, then neutralise the acid with crushed chalk or limestone (same stuff).

The result is calcium sulphate - aka gypsum, which occurs naturally as a rock. Rinse or weather the remnant acid and copper away, and then if left to me I'd dig it into the garden or put it in the local council rubble skip (it's the raw material for plaster).

Basis of Bordeau mixture for gardeners to spray on roses....... I've recently heard somewhere that the clean air is making it hard to grow roses in London now.

Edited By Bazyle on 25/05/2021 00:10:03

Copper sulphate solution will be acidic anyway. Is the original solution here actually in dilute sulphuric acid or just in water? You can buy copper sulphate crystals - ebay for instance - and make your own solution. Indeed since the bordeaux soln mentioned isn't available UK to my knowledge I make my own (with calcium oxide) just for spraying my citrus trees before packing them away in the greenhouse for winter. Humidity Wales leads to Botrytis here.

pgk

If it's a waste product from commercial plating, and they are trying to avoid the costs of proper disposal it's a bit concerning. Hopefully, the alternative isn't it going down a drain.

If its someone who disposes of it properly but thinks they may be able to make a few quid on the side, less so.

Neil