A method for the regeneration of etching solutions containing iron for the use in etching or pickling copper or copper alloys and an apparatus for carrying out the method is described. The method involves feeding the etching solution to be regenerated from the etching system into an electrolysis cell being hermetically sealed or having an anode hood (8), the electrolysis cell comprising a cathode (1), an inert anode (2), means (3) for removing the electrolytically deposited copper from the cathode and means (4) for collecting the removed copper and applying a potential to the removed copper, wherein the electrolysis cell does not have an ion exchange membrane or a diaphragm.