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.

Product specification (Chemical analysis and size distribution)

Packaging

Basic copper carbonate is available in 25 kg , 3-ply paper bags or 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.

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.

Filtration of Basic Copper Carbonate