Influencing Factors and Mechanism of Cobalt Redissolution from Zinc Sulphate Solution

Abstract

Redissolution of cemented cobalt from zinc sulphate solution occurs, and is a well known problem among zinc producers. A variety of mechanism of cobalt redisisolution have been proposed in the literatures, however, it is still not very well understood. The influencing factors of cobalt redissolution such as detention time, oxidation, particle size of zinc dust and copper ion have been investigated in this paper. The redissolution does not occur when very large particles are used but the redissolution of cobalt is significant from small zinc particles. The redissolution is obvious with copper ion added, while the redissolution is not occurred from the zinc sulphated solution without copper ion added. The redissolution mechanism of cobalt is obtained.