Copper sulfate recovery using fluidized bed crystallization

Copper sulfate pentahydrate is recovered from the spent etchant waste stream of a printed circuit board manufacturing facility by cooling crystallization. The fluidized bed crystallizer contains submerged cooling surfaces which are bathed in a stream of air. The air bubbles provide agitation which improve heat transfer, reduce fouling and maintain crystals in suspension. The recently patented apparatus(US 5,523,064) has advantages when compared to a conventional surface cooled crystallizer including capital cost, ease of operation and production of larger more uniform crystals