Copper Development Association

Uses of Copper Compounds

CDA Technical Note TN11, 1972
Please note this publication is provided
as an archive copy. The inforation
!iven ay therefore not be current.
Uses of Copper Compounds
CDA Technical Note TN11
"ctober 1972, #evised $ebruary 197%
Acknowledgements
To the Technical Department, McKechnie Chemicals Ltd.
Copper Development Association
Copper Development Association is a non-trading organisation sponsored by the copper producers and
fabricators to encourage the use of copper and copper alloys and to promote their correct and efficient
application. ts services, !hich include the provision of technical advice and information, are available to
those interested in the utilisation of copper in all its aspects. The Association also provides a lin" bet!een
research and user industries and maintains close contact !ith other copper development associations
throughout the !orld.
#ebsite$ !!!.cda.org.u"
%mail$ helpline&copperdev.co.u"
Copyright: All information in this document is the copyright of Copper Development Association
Disclaimer: #hilst this document has been prepared !ith care, Copper Development Association can give
no !arranty regarding the contents and shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or conse'uential loss
arising out of its use
Contents
Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................................2
Copper Development Association................................................................................................................2
Contents.........................................................................................................................................................1
Tables.............................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction...................................................................................................................................................2
eneral uses o! copper compounds.............................................................................................................2
Agricultural uses o! copper compounds......................................................................................................"
Copper sulphate............................................................................................................................................#
Manufacture....................................................................................................................................................(
)ses.................................................................................................................................................................(
Copper sulphate$s role in agriculture.........................................................................................................%
*reparation of +ordeau, and +urgundy mi,tures on the farm.......................................................................-
Dissolving copper sulphate........................................................................................................................-
*reparation of +ordeau, mi,ture..............................................................................................................-
*reparation of a ./ +urgundy mi,ture.....................................................................................................-
Control of fungus diseases..............................................................................................................................0
Correction of copper deficiency in soils.........................................................................................................0
Correction of copper deficiency in animals....................................................................................................0
1timulation of gro!th for fattening pigs and broiler chic"ens........................................................................0
A molluscicide for the destruction of slugs and snails, particularly the snail host of the liver flu"e..............2
&ther copper compounds...........................................................................................................................1'
Copper acetates..............................................................................................................................................3
Cuprous o,ide................................................................................................................................................3
Cupric o,ide 4blac" copper o,ide5..................................................................................................................
Cupric chloride...............................................................................................................................................
Copper o,ychloride.........................................................................................................................................
Cuprous chloride.............................................................................................................................................
Cupric nitrate..................................................................................................................................................
Copper cyanide...............................................................................................................................................
Copper soaps...................................................................................................................................................
Copper naphthenate.......................................................................................................................................6
Anhydrous and monohydrated copper sulphate.............................................................................................6
Tables
Table A ( )ses of copper sulphate
Table ) ( *lant diseases amenable to control by copper fungicides
.
Introduction
n addition to their many uses in agriculture and biology, copper salts have an astonishing
variety of industrial uses, chiefly of a specialised nature, and there is hardly an industry !hich
does not have some small use for them. The follo!ing pages briefly describe a fe! of the more
important copper compounds and list some of their uses !ith particular reference to copper
sulphate.
t is !orth noting that copper is an indispensable constituent of all living tissues and is essential
for the normal gro!th and !ell being of plants and animals. #here it is lac"ing it has to be
supplied. The minute 'uantities of copper needed for human health are usually obtained through
the normal inta"e of food and !ater.
Copper and its compounds are not to,ic li"e some other metals, such as lead or mercury. There
are no records of any occupational diseases attributable to copper among people !ho have
!or"ed for any years !ith the metal or its salts. ndeed it has sometimes been said that such
people often appear healthier and generally suffer less from colds and other ailments. Copper
bangles and other adornments are reputed to relieve and prevent rheumatic pains. Copper !ater
storage vessels, copper "ettles and copper coo"ing pans have been used for generations.
General uses of copper compounds
To trace the history of copper compounds it !ould be necessary to go. bac" much further than
the fourth millennium +C. 7ecords found in the tombs of the early %gyptians suggest that, at
least, this ancient civilisation employed copper sulphate as a mordant in their dyeing process.
Today, more than -,333 years later, copper sulphate is still employed by the !orld8s dyeing
industry in the after treatment of certain dyes to improve their fastness to light and !ashing.
Another e'ually early recorded use for copper compounds !as for the ma"ing of ointments and
other medical preparations. Later, the 9ree" civilisation of the pre-Christian era of :ypocrates
4circa. (33 +C5 sa! the prescribing of copper sulphate for pulmonary diseases and by the .;th
century AD it had come into !ide clinical use in the !estern !orld being employed for the
treatment of mental disorders and afflictions of the lungs. t is note!orthy that copper sulphate
has lost none of its effectiveness over the centuries, neither have any harmful side effects been
reported. Copper sulphate is still, ho!ever, highly pri<ed by some inhabitants of Africa and
Asia for healing sores and s"in diseases. n the #est it is !idely used in baby foods and in
mineral and vitamin tonics and pills.
Copper has a !ide spectrum of effectiveness against the many biological agents of timber and
fabric decay. t renders them unpalatable to insects and protects them from fungus attac".
Copper sulphate has been in use since .;=; for preserving timber and is today the base for any
proprietary !ood preservatives. The discovery more than ;3 years ago that any algae are highly
susceptible to copper, led to the use of copper salts by !ater engineers to prevent the
development of algae in potable !ater reservoirs. They are also employed to control green slime
and similar algal scums in farm ponds, rice fields, irrigation and drainage canals, rivers, la"es
and s!imming pools. Another !ell "no!n use for copper compounds is as a molluscicide for
the control of slugs and snails. Less than one part of copper per million parts of !ater can
control disease-transmitting a'uatic snails, !hich are responsible for schistosomiasis or
bilhar<ia in humans in tropical countries and fascioliasis or liver flu"e of animals in both
tropical and temperate climates.

6
Agricultural uses of copper compounds
Copper compounds have their most e,tensive employment in agriculture !here the first
recorded use !as in .20. !hen it !as discovered that seed grains soa"ed in a !ea" solution of
copper sulphate inhibited seed-borne fungi. +y .;32 the steeping of cereal seeds in a copper
sulphate solution for a limited time and then drying them !ith hydrated lime became the
standard farming practice for controlling stin"ing smut or bunt of !heat, !hich by then !as
endemic !herever !heat !as gro!n. >lour milled from bunted !heat had to be fed to animals
or sold cheaply to ginger bread ma"ers !ho had found a !ay of mas"ing its bad taste and colour
!ith ginger and treacle. #ithin a fe! decades, so general and effective had become the practice
of treating seed grains !ith copper sulphate that the appearance of more than a fe! bunted ears
in a field of !heat !as loo"ed upon as a sign of neglect on the part of the farmer. 1o !ell have
copper compounds controlled bunt that today this seed-borne disease is no longer of any
economic importance.
The greatest brea"through for copper salts undoubtedly came in the .;;38s !hen the >rench
scientist Millardet, !hile loo"ing for a cure for do!ny milde! disease of vines in the +ordeau,
district of >rance, chanced to notice that those vines, bordering the high!ays and !hich had
been daubed !ith a paste of copper sulphate and lime in !ater in order to ma"e the grapes
unattractive to passers-by, appeared freer of do!ny milde!. This chance observation led to
e,periments !ith mi,tures of copper sulphate, lime and !ater and in .;;- Millardet announced
to the !orld that he had found a cure for the dreaded milde!. This mi,ture became "no!n as
+ordeau, mi,ture and sa! the commencement of protective crop spraying.
#ithin a year or t!o of the discovery of +ordeau, mi,ture, +urgundy mi,ture, !hich also ta"es
its name from the district of >rance in !hich it !as first used, appeared on the scene. +urgundy
mi,ture is prepared from copper sulphate and sodium carbonate 4soda crystals5 and is analogous
to +ordeau, mi,ture.
Trials !ith +ordeau, and +urgundy mi,tures against various fungus diseases of plants soon
established that many plant diseases cold be prevented !ith small amounts of copper applied at
the right time and in the correct manner. >rom then on!ards copper fungicides have been
indispensable and many thousands of tonnes are used annually all over the !orld to prevent
plant diseases.
As a generalisation, soils !ould be considered copper deficient if they contain less than t!o
parts per million available copper in the conte,t of plant health. :o!ever, !here the soil
contains less than five parts per million available copper, symptoms of copper deficiency may
be e,pected in animals. The increasing use of chemical fertilisers !hich contain little or no
copper are denuding soils of readily available copper and creating a deficiency of the element in
plants and through them in animals. Copper compounds are no! being added to the ever
increasing copper deficient soils either direct or in combination !ith commercial fertilisers.
This is particularly the case !here the fertilisers are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. Animals
gra<ing on copper deficient pastures or obtaining an inade'uate amount of copper through their
normal diet !ill benefit from mineral supplements containing copper.
Copper sulphate, because of its fungicidal and bactericidal properties, has been employed as a
disinfectant on farms against storage rots and for the control and prevention of certain animal
diseases, such as foot rot of sheep and cattle.
=
Copper sulphate
Copper sulphate, blue stone, blue vitriol are all common names for pentahydrated cupric
sulphate, Cu1?
(
-:
6
?, !hich is the best "no!n and the most !idely used of the copper salts.
ndeed it is often the starting ra! material for the production of many of the other copper salts.
Today in the !orld there are more than .33 manufacturers and the !orld8s consumption is
around 633,333 tonnes per annum of !hich it is estimated that appro,imately three-'uarters is
used in agriculture, principally as a fungicide.
Manufacture
n the production of copper sulphate virgin copper is seldom, if ever, used as the starting ra!
material. Copper ores are used in countries !here these are mined. >or the bul" of the !orld8s
production non-ferrous scrap is the general source. The scrap is refined and the molten metal
poured into !ater to produce roughly spherical porous pieces about the si<e of marbles !hich
are termed @shot@. This shot is dissolved in dilute sulphuric acid in the presence of air to
produce a hot saturated li'uor !hich, if the traditional large crystals of copper sulphate are
re'uired, is allo!ed to cool slo!ly in large cooling vats into !hich strips of lead are hung to
provide a surface for the crystals to gro! on. f the granulated 4sno!5 crystal grades are
desired, the cooling process is accelerated by agitating the li'uor in !ater cooled vessels. ?ther
methods of production are$
.. +y heating copper scrap !ith sulphur to produce copper sulphide !hich is then o,idised to
form copper sulphate.
6. +y heating copper sulphide ores to produce copper o,ide !hich is then treated !ith
sulphuric acid to form copper sulphate.
=. +y slo! leaching in air of piles of lo! grade ore. +acterial action is sometimes employed to
hasten the process. A solution of copper sulphate drains a!ay from such heaps.
Commercially copper sulphate contains 6-/ metallic copper and is sold !ith a guaranteed
minimum purity of A;/ copper sulphate. t is produced in a number of grades varying from
large crystal lumps, of 6- mm or more in diameter from !hich it appropriately derives the name
bluestone, to very fine po!ders of almost the fineness of talcum po!der. The four commonest
grades, based on crystal diameter si<es, are$
.. Large crystals 4from .3 mm to (3 mm5
6. 1mall crystals 4from 6 mm to .3 mm5
=. 9ranulated or sno! crystals 4less than 6 mm5
(. #inds!ept po!der 4less than 3..- mm5
Uses
Copper sulphate is a very versatile chemical !ith as e,tensive a range of uses in industry as it
has in agriculture. ts principal employment is in agriculture, and this role is described in some
detail in the ne,t section.
)p to a generation or so ago about its only uses in industry !ere as a mordant for dyeing and for
electroplating, but today it is being employed in many industrial processes. The synthetic fibre
industry has found an application for it in the production of their ra! material. The metal
industry uses large 'uantities of copper sulphate as an electrolyte in copper refining, for copper
coating steel !ire prior to !ire dra!ing and in various copper plating processes. The mining
industry employs it as an activator in the concentration by froth flotation of lead, <inc, cobalt
and gold ores. The printing trade ta"es it as an electrolyte in the production of electrotype and
(
as an etching agent for process engraving. The paint industry uses it in anti-fouling paints and it
plays a part in the colouring of glass. ndeed, today there is hardly an industry !hich does not
have some small use for copper sulphate. n Table A some of the many uses of copper sulphate
are listed.
Copper sulphate's role in agriculture
Copper sulphate has many agricultural uses 4see Table A5 but the follo!ing are the more
important ones$
reparation of !ordeau" and !urgund# mi"tures on the farm
+ecause of their importance to farmers, instructions concerning the dissolving of copper
sulphate and the preparation of both +ordeau, and +urgundy mi,tures have been included in
the te,t.
Dissolving copper sulphate
ron or galvanised vessels must not be used for the preparation of copper sulphate solutions.
*lastic vessels are light and very convenient. To ma"e a strong solution, hang a Bute sac" of
copper sulphate so that the bottom of it dips a fe! inches only in the !ater. The copper
sulphate !ill dissolve overnight. Copper sulphate dissolves in cold !ater to the e,tent of about
= "g per .3 litres. f more than this is placed in the sac" described above, then a saturated
solution !ill be obtained and it may be used !ithout serious error on the basis that it contains =
"g copper sulphate per .3 litres.
reparation of !ordeau" mi"ture
+ordeau, mi,ture is prepared in various strengths from copper sulphate, hydrated lime 4calcium
hydro,ide5 and !ater. The conventional method of describing its composition is to give the
!eight of copper sulphate, the !eight of hydrated lime and the volume of !ater in that order.
The percentage of the !eight of copper sulphate to the !eight of !ater employed determines the
concentration of the +ordeau, mi,ture. Thus a ./ +ordeau, mi,ture, !hich is the normal,
!ould have the formula .$.$.33, the first . representing . "g copper sulphate, the second
representing . "g hydrated lime, and the .33 representing .33 litres 4.33 "g5 !ater. As copper
sulphate contains 6-/ copper metal, the copper content of a ./ +ordeau, mi,ture !ould be
3.6-/ copper. The 'uantity of lime used can be reduced considerably. Actually . "g copper
sulphate re'uires only 3.66- "g of chemically pure hydrated lime to precipitate all the copper.
9ood proprietary brands of hydrated lime are available but, as even these deteriorate in storage,
it is safest not to e,ceed a ratio of 6$. i.e. a ..3-$.33 mi,ture.
n preparing +ordeau, mi,ture, the copper sulphate is dissolved in half the re'uired amount of
!ater in a !ooden or plastic vessel. The hydrated lime is mi,ed !ith the balance of the !ater in
another vessel. The t!o @solutions@ are then poured together through a strainer into a third
vessel or spray tan".
reparation of a $% !urgund# mi"ture
Dissolve separately . "g copper sulphate in -3 litres !ater and ..6- "g !ashing soda 4or 3.(2-
"g soda ash5 in -3 litres !ater and slo!ly add the soda solution to the copper sulphate solution
!ith stirring.
-
Control of fungus diseases
+ordeau, and +urgundy mi,tures have been found effective in controlling a !hole host of
fungus diseases of plants. Cormally a 3.-/ to ..3/ +ordeau, or +urgundy mi,ture applied at 6
to = !ee" intervals suffices to control most copper-susceptible fungi.
9enerally once the fungus spores have alighted on the host plant and penetrated the tissues it is
difficult to control them. The principle of control must in most cases depend on protection, i.e.
preventing the fungus spores from entering the host tissues. Copper fungicides are noted for
their tenacity and for this reason are much to be preferred in areas of high rainfall. The simplest
method of control is to apply a protective coating of +ordeau, or +urgundy mi,ture 4or other
copper fungicide5 to the susceptible parts of the plant, so that spores alighting on them come in
contact !ith the protective film of copper and are "illed instantly. t is thus important to
remember that the first spraying must ideally be made Bust before the disease is e,pected and
continued at intervals throughout the susceptible period. >or this reason it is important to ta"e
advantage of the early !arning schemes !hich are in operation to ensure greater accuracy of the
timing of the first spraying. t must also be remembered that fungi are plants and that control
measures that !ill "ill them may not al!ays leave the host plant unaffected. The use of too
concentrated a fungicide mi,ture must therefore be guarded against, particularly for the early
sprays.
Copper fungicides have been reported effective against numerous plant diseases. A list, by no
means e,haustive, of some =33 diseases that have been found amenable to control by copper
fungicides, appears in Table +.
Correction of copper deficienc# in soils
#here copper deficiency has been confirmed by soil analysis or field diagnosis, !hether in
plants or animals, it can be corrected very simply either by applying -3 "g copper sulphate per
hectare in the form of a fertiliser before so!ing or by spraying the foliage of the young cereal
plants, !hen they are about .-3 mm high, !ith 2-3 grams copper sulphate 4dissolved in from
(33 to 6,333 litres !ater5 per hectare. The soil application has generally given the better results
and has the advantage that it may have a residual effect for more than ten years. The foliar
application has to be given annually to each crop. An alternative is to add a copper containing
slag 4normally about ./ to 6/ copper5 at a rate of a tonne to the hectare.
Correction of copper deficienc# in animals
A method of correcting copper deficiency in livestoc" is to treat the soil on !hich animals
gra<e. >or e,ample, in Australia and Ce! Dealand s!aybac" in lambs is being prevented by top
dressing copper deficient pastures !ith - to .3 "g copper sulphate per hectare before lambing
begins. ?ther methods include drenching periodically !ith a copper sulphate solutionE
incorporating copper sulphate in salt and other animal lic"sE or by !hat is probably the most
general method, incorporating copper sulphate along !ith other minerals and vitamins in the
form of carefully blended supplements in the feeding stuffs.
&timulation of growth for fattening pigs and broiler chickens
The inclusion of up to as much as 3../ copper sulphate in the diet of bacon and por" pigs and
broiler chic"ens stimulates appetite and produces increased gro!th rate !ith a mar"ed
improvement in feed conversion.
0
A molluscicide for the destruction of slugs and snails' particularl#
the snail host of the liver fluke
All li"ely habitats of the liver flu"e snail should be treated !ith copper sulphate at the rate of 6-
"g to the hectare at least t!ice a year in Fune and August 4northern hemisphere5 or December
and >ebruary 4southern hemisphere5.
Table A Uses of copper sulphate
Classi!ication Application
Agriculture
MaBor uses *reparation of +ordeau, and +urgundy mi,tures for use as fungicides
Manufacture of other copper fungicides such as copper-lime dust, tribasic copper
sulphate, copper carbonate and cuprous o,ide
Manufacture of insecticides such as copper arsenite and *aris green
Control of fungus diseases 4see Table +5
Correction of copper deficiency in soils
Correction of copper deficiency in animals
9ro!th stimulant for fattening pigs and broiler chic"ens
Molluscicide for the destruction of slugs and snails, particularly the snail host of the
liver flu"e
?ther uses 1eed dressing
1oil steriliser, e.g. Cheshunt compound 4a mi,ture of copper sulphate and ammonium
carbonate5 to prevent @damping-off@ disease of tomato, etc.
Control and prevention of foot rot in sheep and cattle
+acteriastat for addition to sheep dips
Disinfectant in prevention of the spread of s!ine erysepelas and !hite scours in calves
Control of scum in farm ponds
*lant nutrient in rice fields
*reservative for !ooden posts, !ooden buildings, etc.
*reservative for !ooden fruit bo,es, planting bas"ets and other containers
ngredient of vermin repellents, e.g. for application to bar" of trees against rabbits
1timulant of late, yield on rubber plantations
*rotection against algal gro!ths on flo!er pots
2
*ublic health and medicine
Destruction of algal blooms in reservoirs and s!imming pools
*revention of the spread of athletes foot in !arm climates, by incorporation in the
flooring mi,ture of s!imming baths
Control of bilhar<ia in tropical countries, as a molluscicide
*revention of malaria, in the preparation of *aris green for use against mos'uito larvae
Antiseptic and germicide against fungus infections
Catalyst or ra! material for the preparation of copper catalysts used in the manufacture
of pharmaceutical products
Industry
Adhesives


*reservative in casein and other glues
Additive to boo" binding pastes and glues, for insecticidal purposes
Additive to animal and silicate glues to give !ater resistance
+uilding





Timber preservative and in the preparation of other !ood preservatives, e.g. oil based
copper naphthenates and !ater based copperGchromeGarsenic for the prevention of
!ood!orms and !ood rots
ngredient of plaster to prevent fungus infection, e.g. to prevent the spread of dry rot
ngredient of concrete, both as a colouring matter and as an antiseptic, e.g. for use in
and around s!imming pools
Modification of the setting of concrete
*rotection against lichens, moulds and similar gro!ths on asbestos cement roofing and
other building materials
Control of the gro!th of tree roots in se!ers
Chemical






*reparation of catalysts for use in many industries
*urification of gases, e.g. removal of hydrogen chloride and hydrogen sulphide
*recipitation promoter in purifying <inc sulphate solutions
*recipitation of al"aloids as double salts from crude e,tracts
1ource of other copper compounds such as copper carbonate silicateGarseniteGaceto-
arseniteGresinateGstearateGtartrateGoleate
naphthenateGchromateGchlorateGalginateGfluorideGhydro,ide, cuprous
o,ideGchlorideGcyanide and cuprammonium compounds
Decorative
trades



Colouring glass
Colouring cement and plaster
Colouring ceramic !ares
Alteration of metal colours, e.g. dar"ening of <inc, colouring aluminium
Dyestuffs

7eagent in the preparation of dyestuffs intermediates
Catalyst or ra! material for the preparation of copper catalysts, e.g. preparation of
phenols from dia<o compounds, preparation of phthalocyanine dyes
;
Leather and fur Mordant in dyeing
7eagent in tanning processes
Metal and
electrical

%lectrolyte in copper refining
%lectrolyte in copper plating and electro forming
%lectrolytic manufacture of cuprous compounds, e.g. cuprous o,ide
Constituent of the electrodes and electrolytes in batteries
%lectrolyte in the manufacture of copper po!der
%lectrolyte in aluminium plating and anodising
Copper coating steel !ire, prior to !ire dra!ing
*ic"ling copper !ire, etc., prior to enamelling
*roviding a suitable surface for mar"ing out iron and steel
Mining >lotation reagent in the concentration of ores, e.g. <inc blende
*aint

7a! material for the manufacture of copper naphthenate and other copper
compounds for use in anti-fouling paints
*reparation of certain varnish or paint dryers, e.g. copper oleate, copper stearate
*reparation of certain pigments, e.g. copper chromate, copper ferrocyanide, copper
phthalocyanine
*rinting


%tching agent for process engraving
%lectrolyte in the preparation of electrotype
ngredient of printing in"s
1ynthetic
rubber
and petroleum



*reparation of catalysts used in crac"ing certain gaseous and li'uid petroleum
>ractions
*reparation of cuprous chloride, used in the purification of butadiene and in the
separation of acetylene derivatives
*reparation of catalysts used in chlorinating rubber late,
*urification of petroleum oils
Te,tiles






*reparation of copper compounds for rot-proofing canvas and other fabrics
7ot-proofing sandbags
Mordant, especially in calico printing
Cuprammonium process for the production of rayon
*roduction of aniline blac" and dia<o colours for dyeing
@After coppering@ to increase the fastness of dyes
Catalyst in the manufacture of cellulose ethers and in cellulose acetylation
A
Miscellaneous













mproving the burning 'ualities of co"e
Laboratory analytical !or"
ngredient of laundry mar"ing in"
Dyeing of hair and horn
ngredient of hair dyes of the phenylene diamine or pyrogallol type
*reparation of chlorophyll as a colouring material for food stuffs
mparting a green colour in fire!or"s
Activator in the preparation of active carbons
*reservative for !ood pulp
*reservation of fishing nets and hides on tra!ls
?btaining a blue-blac" finish on steel
Treatment of carbon brushes
ngredient of the solution used for preserving plant specimens in their natural
colours
mpregnation in fruit !rapping papers to prevent storage rots
(ther copper compounds
Copper acetates
+asic copper acetate 4verdigris5 !as at one time made in >rance by interleaving copper metal
sheets !ith fermented grape s"ins and dregs left after !ine manufacture. After some time !hen
the copper sheets had become coated !ith verdigris they !ere removed, e,posed to the air for a
fe! days and then replaced. This process !as repeated until the !hole sheet had become
corroded. The resulting product !as "no!n as blue verdigris and !as used as a fungicide at .
"g basic copper acetate in -33 litres !ater.
*resent manufacture is based on the action of acetic acid on copper metal, copper o,ide or
copper carbonate. They can also be prepared by treating a copper sulphate solution !ith lead
acetate. Copper acetates are used as an intermediate in the manufacture of *aris green 4cupric
aceto-arsenite5E as a catalyst in a number of organic reactions including rubber ageingE as a
chemical in te,tile dyeingE and as a pigment for ceramics. Copper acetates have also been used
for impregnating "raft paper to produce an anti-tarnish !rapping paper for high grade silver
!are.
Cuprous o"ide
Can be produced either electrolytically from copper or by the action of al"aline reducing agents
on copper sulphate solutions. >ormulated proprietary brands of cuprous o,ide are e,tensively
employed as fungicides and seed dressings. Another important application is in anti-fouling
paints. ?ther uses include the colouring of porcelain and glass.
.3
Cupric o"ide )black copper o"ide*
Can be produced either by adding caustic soda to hot copper sulphate solutions or by treating
copper scale !ith nitric acid and heating to redness. Cupric o,ide is used in the ceramic industry
for imparting blue, green or red tints in glasses, gla<es and enamels. t is occasionally employed
for incorporation in mineral supplements for insuring against an insufficiency of copper in the
diet of animals. Among its other uses is the preparation of cuprammonium hydro,ide solutions
for the rayon industry.
Cupric chloride
?btained either by dissolving cupric o,ide in hydrochloric acid or by the action of chlorine on
copper. ts principal use is in the petroleum industry for s!eetening 4catalytic o,idation of the
mercaptans5 and as an ingredient of catalysts for other chemical processes. t is also used as a
mordant in calico printing and dyeing.
Copper o"#chloride
s a basic copper chloride and is usually manufactured either by the action of hydrochloric acid
on copper metal or by the air o,idation of cuprous chloride suspensions. t has a number of
applications, by far the most important being as an agricultural fungicide for !hich purpose it is
e,tensively employed in formulated form as dusts, !ettable po!ders and pastes.
Cuprous chloride
*repared either by heating a solution of cupric chloride !ith copper turnings or by the action of
a reducing agent such as sulphur dio,ide, on a mi,ture of common salt and copper sulphate
solution. The petroleum industry uses cuprous chloride in their @oil s!eetening@ process.
Ammoniacal solutions of cuprous chloride are employed for the absorption of any carbon
mono,ide !hich may be present in a gas as an impurity.
Cupric nitrate
*roduced either by dissolving copper carbonate in nitric acid or direct from copper and nitric
acid. t has a number of small uses, such as in ceramics, dyeing as a mordant, in fire!or"s and
in photography.
Copper c#anide
Manufactured from sodium cyanide and copper sulphate. t is mainly used for copper
electroplating.
Copper soaps
)sually made by the inter-action of the corresponding soap !ith copper sulphate solution. 1mall
'uantities of these, such as copper stearate, copper oleate and copper abietate 4from resins5, are
employed mainly for rot-proofing te,tiles, ropes, etc. They are also used in paints as they are
soluble in oils, !hite spirits, etc.
..
Copper naphthenate
)sually manufactured either from copper sulphate and naphthenic acid in combination !ith an
al"ali or by heating naphthenic acid and copper o,ide. t is !idely used as an oil-based !ood
preservative and as a rot-proofing agent.
Anh#drous and monoh#drated copper sulphate
?btained by heating copper sulphate pentahydrate - !hen four molecules of !ater of
crystallisation are removed the product becomes copper sulphate monohydrate !hich is green in
colour. At a higher temperature all the !ater of crystalli<ation is removed and anhydrous copper
sulphate is the !hite po!der !hich results. They can also be obtained by crystallisation from
copper sulphate pentahydrate in boiling sulphuric acid. The main applications are in the
production of proprietary !ood preservatives and agricultural fungicides as !ell as for the
production of a number of copper compounds. 1ometimes they are utilised to detect the
presence of moisture.
Table B -Plant diseases amenable to control by copper fungicides
*lant Disease
Common name *athogen
Almond



1hot hole Clasterosporium carpophilum
7ust *uccinia pruni-spinosae
+lossom !ilt 1clerotinia la,a and 1clerotinia fructigena
Leaf curl Taphrina deformans
Aloe Anthracnose Colletotrichum agaves
Antirrhinum 7ust *uccinia antirrhini
Apple







*in" disease Corticium salmonicolor
>ireblight %r!inia amylovora
+itter rot 9lomerella cingulata
Can"er Cectria galligena
+lotch *hyllosticta solitaria
+lac" rot *hysalospora obtusa
+lossom !ilt 1clerotinia la,a
1cab Henturia inae'ualis
Apricot


1hot hole Clasterosporium carpophilum
7ust *uccinia pruni-spinosae
+lossom !ilt 1clerotinia la,a and 1clerotinia fructigena
Areca Cut Thread blight Corticium "oleroga
Arro!root +anded leaf blight Corticium solani
Articho"e 49lobe5 7amularia cynarae
Asparagus 7ust *uccinia asparagi
.6
*lant Disease
Common name *athogen
Avocado



>ruit spot Cercospora purpurea
Anthracnose 4+lac" spot5 9lomerella cingulata
+acterial rot *seudomonas syringae
1cab 1phaceloma perseae
A<alea >lo!er spot ?vulinia a<aleae
+anana


+lac" rot 4Die bac"5 +otryodiplodia theobromae
:elminthosporiosis :elminthosporium sp.
1igato"a disease 4Leaf spot5 Mycosphaerella musicola
+arley

1no! damage Typhula itoana
Covered smut )stilago hordei
+ean 4+road5


Leaf spot Asochyta pisi
Chocolate spot +otrytis cinerea
7ust )romyces fabae
+ean
4>rench and 7unner5



Anthracnose Colletotrichum lindemuthianum
*o!dery milde! %rysiphe polygoni
:alo blight *seudomonas medicaginis var phaseolicola
7ust )romyces appendiculatus
Common blight Ianthomonas phaseoli
+egonia Milde! ?idium begoniae
+etel



Leaf spot +acterium betle
Leaf spot 9lomeralla cingulata
>oot rot *hytophthora colocasiae
Leaf rot *hytophthora parasitica
+lac"berry Cane spot %lsinoe veneta
+lueberry


*o!dery milde! Microsphaera alni var. vaccinii
Leaf rust *ucciniastrum myrtilli
>ruit rot 1clerotinia vaccinii-corymbosi
+rassicas



Damping off ?ipidium brassicae
Do!ny milde! *eronospora parasitica
+lac" leg 4Can"er5 *homa lingam
+lac" rot Ianthomonas campestris
Cacao


+ro!n pod rot 4Die bac"5 +otryodiplodia theobromae
#itches8 broom Marasmius perniciosus
+lac" pod rot *hytophthora palmivora
Calendula Leaf spot Cercospora calendulae
.=
*lant Disease
Common name *athogen
Carnation


7ing spot Didymellina dianthi
Leaf spot 1eptoria dianthi
7ust )romyces dianthi
Carrot


+light Alternaria dauci
+acterial soft rot +acterium carotovorum
Leaf spot Cercospora carotae
Cassava Leaf spot Cercospora henningsii
Castor oil Leaf spot *hyllosticta bosensis
Cattleya +lac" rot *hythium ultimum
Celery

+light Cercospora apii
Leaf spot 1eptoria apii and 1eptoria apii graveolentis
Cherry






1hot hole Clasterosporium carpophilum
Leaf spot Coccomyces hiemalis
+itter rot 9lomerella cingulata
Leaf scorch 9nomonia erythrostoma
+acterial can"er *seudomonas mors-prunorum
+ro!n rot 4+lossom !ilt5 1clerotinia la,a and 1clerotinia fructigena
1cab Henturia cerasi
Chestnut

+light %ndothia parasitica
n" disease *hytophthora cambivora
Chilli


+light 4Leaf spot5 Cercospora capsici
+light 4Collar rot5 *hytophthora capsici
+acterial spot Ianthomonas vesicatoria
Chrysanthemum


Milde! ?idium chrysanthemi
7ust *uccinia chrysanthemi
Leaf spot 1eptoria chrysanthemella
Cinchona Damping off *ythium ve,ans
Cineraria Alternaria senecionis
Citronella Collar rot
Citrus





1ooty mould Aithaloderma citri
Thread blight Corticium "oleroga
Melanose Diaporthe citri
Mal secco Deuterophoma tracheiphila
1cab %lsinoe fa!cetti
Anthracnose 4#ither tip5 9loeosporium limetticola
.(
*lant Disease
Common name *athogen
Citrus 4continued5 1ooty blotch Leptothyrium pomi
+lac" spot *homa citricarpa
+ro!n rot *hytophthora spp.
+lac" pit *seudomonas syringae
1eptoria spot 1eptoria depressa
Can"er Ianthomonas citri
Coffee




+ro!n eyespot Cercospora coffeicola
Thread blight 4+lac" rot5 Corticium "oleroga
Anthracnose 4Die bac"5 9lomerella cingulata
7ust :emileia vastatri,
+erry disease Colletotrichum coffeanum
Conifers









+light Cercospora thuBina
Coryneum blight Coryneum berc"manii
Can"er Coryneum cardinale
>usiform rust Cronartium fusiforme
+lister rust Cronartium ribicola
Leaf cast 4of Kauri *ine5 :endersonula agathi
Ceedle cast 4of 1cots *ine5 Lophodermium pinastri
*homopsis blight *homopsis Buniperovora
Ceedle cast 4of Douglas >ir5 7habdocline pseudotsugae
7oot rot 7hi<octonia crocorum
Cotton


Alternarii disease Alternaria gossypii and Alternaria
macrospora
1ore shin Corticium solani
Co!pea 1cab Cladosporium vignae
Cucurbits







Leaf blight Alternaria cucumerina
#et rot Choanephora cucurbitarum
Anthracnose Colletotrichum lagenarium
#ilt %r!inia tracheiphila
*o!dery milde! %rysiphe cichoracearum
+lac" rot Mycosphaerella citrullina
1tem end rot *hysalospora rhodina
Do!ny milde! *seudoperonospora cubensis
Currant 47ibes5

Leaf spot Mycosphaerella grossulariae and
Mycosphaerella ribis
Leaf spot *seudope<i<a ribis
.-
*lant Disease
Common name *athogen
Cytisus Die bac" Ceratophorum setosum
Daffodil

#hite mould 7amularia vallisumbrosae
>ire 1clerotinia polyblastis
Dahlia Leaf spot *hyllosticta dahliicola and %ntyloma dahliae
Dalo Leaf spot *hytophthora colocasiae
Delphinium Milde! %rysiphe polygoni
Derris Leaf spot Colletotrichum derridis
Dog!ood 4Cornus5 1pot anthracnose %lsinoe corni
%gg *lant

Leaf spot Ascochyta melongenae
Damping off Corticium solani
>ig




Leaf fall and >ruit rot Cercospora bolleana
7ust Cerotelium fici
Thread blight Corticium "oleroga
Can"er *homopsis cinerescens
+light *hi<octonia microsclerotia
>ilbert +ud blight Ianthomonas corylina
>ruit trees Cro!n gall +acterium tumefaciens
9ambier #hite root rot >omes lignosus
9ardenia Can"er *homopsis gardenia
9erbera Leaf spot Cercospora sp.
9inseng +light Alternaria pana,
9ladiolus Corm rot +otrytis gladiolorum
9ooseberry



Die bac" +otrytis cinerea
Leaf spot Mycosphaerella grossulariae
Cluster cup rust *uccinia pringshemiana
American milde! 1phaerotheca mors-uvae
9rasses



1no! mould Calonectria graminicola
7ed thread Corticium fusiforme
+ro!n patch of la!ns 7hi<octonia and :olminthosporium spp.
1tripe smut )stilago striiformis
9round nut

Leaf spot Cercospora arachidicola and Cercospora
personate
1tem rot 41outhern blight5 1clerotium rolfsii
9uava


Leaf spot Cephaleuros mycoidea
Thread blight Corticium "oleroga
7ust *uccinia psidii
:ellebore Coniothyrium hellebori
.0
*lant Disease
Common name *athogen
:ollyhoc" 7ust *uccinia malvacearum
:op

Do!ny milde! *seudoperonospora humuli
*o!dery milde! 1phaerotheca humuli
:ydrangea Milde! ?idium hortensiae
Lee"

Milde! *eronospora destructor
#hite tip *hytophthora porri
Lettuce

Do!ny milde! +remia lactucae
7ing spot Marssonina panattoniana
Lily +light +otrytis elliptica
Mai<e Do!ny milde! 1clerospora philippinensis
Mango





7ed rust Cephaleuros virescens
Anthracnose Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
1cab %lsinoe mangiferae
+acterial blac" spot %r!inia mangiferae
Anthracnose 9loeosporium mangiferae
*o!dery milde! ?idium mangiferae
Medlar 1cab Henturia eriobotryae
Millet 4talian5 1mut )stilago crameri
Mushroom

#hite mould Mycogone perniciosa
+acterial blotch4+ro!n
blotch5
*seudomonas tolaasi
Cectarine



1hot hole Clasterosporium carpophilum
7ust *uccinia pruni-spinosae
+lossom !ilt 1clerotinia la,a and 1clerotinia fructigena
Leaf curl Taphrina deformans
?ats Loose smut )stilago avanae
?live Leaf spot Cycloconium oleaginum
?nion Do!ny milde! *eronospora destructor
?rchids >usarium Macrophoma and Diplodia spp.
*aeony

+light +otrytis peaoniae
+ud death 1phaeropsis paeonia
*alm 4*almyra5 Leaf spot *estalotia palmarum
*assion fruit

+ro!n spot Alternaria passiflorae
9rease spot *seudomonas passiflorae
.2
*lant Disease
Common name *athogen
*a!pa!



Leaf spot Ascochyta caricae
Anthracnose 4>ruit rot5 Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
*o!dery milde! ?idium caricae
:ard rot *hytophthora parasitica
*each



1hot hole Clasterosporium carpophilum
7ust *uccinia pruni-spinosae
+lossom !ilt 1clerotinia la,a and 1clerotinia fructigena
Leaf curl Taphrina deformans
*ear





1cab 4America5 Cladosporium effusum
Thread blight Corticium "oleroga
>irebiiglit %r!inia amylovora
+itter rot 9lomerella cingulata
Leaf spot 4Leaf spec"5 Mycosphaerella sentina
1cab Henturia pirina
*ecan



1cab Cladosporium effusum
Thread blight Corticium "oleroga
Hein spot 9nomonia nerviseda
Liver spot 9nomonia caryae var. pecanae
*epper47ed5 41ee Chilli5
*ersimmon Can"er *homopsis diospyri
*ineapple :eart or stern rot *hytophthora parasitica
*iper betle 41ee +etel5
*lantain +lac" tip :elminthosporium torulosum
*lum








1hot hole Clasterosporium carpophilum
+lac" rot Dibotryon morbosum
+acterial can"er *seudomonas mors-prunorum
#ilt *seudomonas prunicola
7ust *uccinia pruni-spinosae
+ro!n rot 1clerotinia fructigena
+lossom !ilt 1clerotinia la,a
#atery rot 4*oc"et plums5 Taphrina pruni
+acterial spot Ianthomonas pruni
*oplar 1eptogloeum populiperdun
*oppy Do!ny milde! *eronospora arborescens
.;
*lant Disease
Common name *athogen
*otato



%arly blight Alternaria solani
9rey mould +otrytis cinerea
+light 4Late blight5 *hytophthora infestans
Dry rot 1clerotium rolfsii
Juince

+ro!n rot 1clerotinia fructigena
1hot hole Clasterosporium carpophilum
7aspberry


1pur blight Didymella applanata
Cane spot 4Anthracnose5 %lsinoe veneta
Cane !ilt Leptosphaeria coniothyrium
7hododendron Leaf scorch 4+ud blast5 *ycnostysanus a<aleae
7hubarb Do!ny milde! *eronospora Baapiana
7ice


+ro!n spot ?phiobolus miyabeanus
4:elmintliosporiosis5
+last *iricularia ory<ae
7ose




+lac" spot Diplocarpon rosae
Do!ny milde! *eronospora sparsa
7ust *hragmidium mucronatum
Leaf spot 4Anthracnose5 1phaceloma rosarum
Milde! 1phaerotheca pannosa
7ubber




American leaf disease Dothidella ulei
#hite root rot >omes lignosus
Leaf disease :elminthosporium heveae
1tem disease *estalotia palmarum
Abnormal leaf fall *hytophthora palmivora
7ye grass +lind seed *hialea temulenta
1afflo!er 7ust *uccinia carthami
1eedlings Damping off *ythium debaryanum, *ythium and 7hi<octonia
spp, 1clerotinia sclerotiorum,etc
1orghum Covered smut 1phacelotheca sorghi
1pinach

Leaf spot :eterosporium variabile
Do!ny milde! *eronospora effusa
1pindle tree Milde! ?idium euonymi-Baponicae
1toc" Leaf spot Alternaria raphani
1tra!berry Leaf spot Mycosphaerella fragariae
1ugar beet

Leaf spot Cercospora beticola
Do!ny milde! *eronospora schactii
.A
*lant Disease
Common name *athogen
1unflo!er 7ust *uccinia helianthi
#ilt 1clerotinia sclerotiorum
1!eet potato #ilt >usarium spp.
Taro Leaf spot *hytophthora colocasiae
Tea



+lac" rot 4Die bac"5 +otryodiplodia theobromae
7ed rust Cephaleuros niycoidea
+lister blight %,obasidium ve,ans
9rey blight *estalotia theae
Tobacco




+ro!n spot 47ed rust5 Alternaria longipes
Leaf spot Ascochyta nicotianae
>rog eye Cercospora nicotianae
+lue mould 4Do!ny milde!5 *eronospora tabacina
#ildfire *seudomonas tabacum
Tomato










%arly blight Alternaria solani
Leaf mould Cladosporium fulvum
Anthracnose Colletotrichum phomoides
>ruit rot Didymella lycopersici
Milde! Leveilluia taurica
>ruit rot *hytophthora capsici
>oot rot *hytophthora cryptogea
+light 4Late blight5 *hytophthora infestans
Leaf spot 1eptoria lycopersici
9rey leaf spot 1temphylium solani
+acterial spot Ianthomonas vesicatoria
Tuberose +light +otrytis elliptica
Tung Thread blight Corticium "oleroga
Heronica 1eptoria e,otici
Hine 49rape5







@Coitre@ Coniothyrium diplodiella
Anthracnose %lsinoe ampelina
+lac" rot 9uignardia bid!ellii
Leaf spot sariopsis fuc"elli
+itter rot Melanconium fuligineum
Angular leaf spot Mycosphaerella angulata
Do!ny milde! *lasmopara viticola
Totbrenner *seudope<i<a tracheiphila
*o!dery milde! )ncinula necator
63
*lant Disease
Common name *athogen
Hine 41ultana5 1ooty de! %,osporium sultanae
Hiola Leaf spot Centrospora acerina
Hiolet 1cab 1phaceloma violae
#alnut



7ing spot Ascochyta Buglandis
Anthracnose 4+lotch5 9nomonia leptostyla
Do!ny leaf spot Microstroma Buglandis
+light Ianthomonas Buglandis
#heat



7oot rot 9ibberella <eae
7ust *uccinia spp.
1no! damage *ythium sp.
+unt Tilletia caries and Tilletia faetida
#illo!

+lac" can"er *hysalospora miyabeana
1cab Henturia chlorospora
Dinnia #ilt 1clerotinia sclerotiorum
6.
66
Copper Developent Association
& 'rovelands (usiness Centre
(oundary )ay
*eel *epstead
*P2 7T+
)ebsite, ---.cda.or!.u.
+ail, helpline/copperdev.co.u.