Basic copper carbonate manufactured by Timna Copper Mines is dustless, free flowing and easy-to-handle product that has a very high purity level, as well as all other Timna products.
Timna contributes to cleaner environment by producing basic copper carbonate from copper-containing acidic etchants, which outcome from Israeli Printed Circuit Board industry and would otherwise be land-buried.
Timna's capability for producing basic copper carbonate is 350 tons per annum.
Basic copper carbonate occurs as a natural mineral (malachite) in the Timna ore deposit, it is known as King Solomon's Mines Copper Carbonate. It has contributed its forest-green color to the company logo.
Basic copper carbonate is also known as copper carbonate hydroxide and as Bremen Green. As a matter of fact, a patina which is formed on the surface of copper and bronze items, called verdigris, is a layer of basic copper carbonate.
Basic copper carbonate is available in 25 kg or 50 lb. 3-ply paper bags or 500/1000 kg polyethylene-lined woven polypropylene big-bags.
Product Physical Characteristics
Molecular formula: CuCO3∙Cu(OH)2
Basic copper carbonate is precipitated as a green monoclinic crystal. It is insoluble in water, completely soluble in methyl ethanol amine. It will also dissolve in mineral and organic acids.
Specific gravity of Basic Copper Carbonate is 4 g/cm3, and its apparent bulk density is 1.8-2.1 g/cm3.
Timna process for producing Basic Copper Carbonate
Production plant for basic copper carbonate has been developed and built in 2004. The plant has the fully-automatic MES (Manufacturing Execution System).
Timna manufactures basic copper carbonate by reacting copper-bearing solutions and a soluble carbonate under controlled conditions, yielding a uniform product. The product comes out of the reactor as a slurry in a mother liquor. It is filtered, washed, dried and packed.
