Recovery of Valuable Metals from Zinc Plant Residues by Two-Stage Selective Atmospheric Leaching Process

Abstract

A hydrometallurgical process was used for selectively extraction of valuable metals from zinc plant residues. The process includes the following two steps. (1) The zinc plant residue is treated by sulfuric acid atmospheric leaching process with KMnO4 as oxidatant to selectively dissolve zinc while leaving most (above 98 pct) of indium and germandium in the iron residues. (2) The iron residues are treated by acidic atmospheric leaching process with NaClO3 as oxidant to dissolve indium and germanium. The valuable metals of indium and germanium in the second leaching solution can be reclaimed by further treatment. The optimum operating parameters of the first stage and the second stage were established by conditional tests. The experimental data indicated that under the conditions employed the zinc extraction in the first stage was above 95%, and the leaching percentage of indium and germanium in the second stage reached 91.6% and 90.7%, respectively.

Global Substance Flow Analysis of Gallium, Germanium, and Indium: Quantification of Extraction, Uses, and Dissipative Losses within their Anthropogenic Cycles

“…The remaining 62.5% of In were accumulated in the Zn leach residues, available for In mining. Li and colleagues () have developed a two‐step atmospheric leaching process, which shows that, during Zn production, approximately 98% of all In available can be accumulated in the leach residue. Recovering In by this method on a large scale with current capacities would lead to an additional IN amount of approximately 217.6 t—significant, but still falls short of current annual production.…”

“…Taking into account refining efficiencies of 68% from hydrometallurgically processed Zn concentrate, 5,302 t of potentially recoverable Ge were not extracted (section 2.2.1 in the supporting information on the Web). Further, we estimate a recoverable amount of 1,910 t as losses, considering a very conservative extraction efficiency of 50% from fly ash (Harbuck ; Li et al ; Arroyo et al ) (section 2.2.2 in the supporting information on the Web).…”

In Situ Resource Recovery from Waste Repositories: Exploring the Potential for Mobilization and Capture of Metals from Anthropogenic Ores

“…Ju et al [28] estimate at least 1 million tonnes per annum of residue arising in China alone, containing Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd, Cu, Ni, and In in a matrix of jarosite with zinc ferrite and anglesite. Various secondary process routes have been developed for recovery of valuable components from such residues, e.g., Zn, Ge, and In recovery [29], Zn and Ga [30], and Pb and Ag [31].…”

Selective Lead Extraction from Zinc Calcine and Zinc Leaching Residue by Leaching with Monoethanolamine Solvent Systems

“…This large amount of ZLR still contains metals with high economic value, such as zinc, copper, lead, and silver. , Although landfill or storage is still a common practice to treat ZLR, much effort has been expended to recover the valuable and precious metals left in the ZLR. These include the application of the Waelz and Ausmelt processes, which require high operating temperatures (1100–1300 °C), , the sulfidization-flotation process, and hydrometallurgical leaching. ,, Metal recovery from ZLR is not only of economic importance but also prevents environmental leaching of heavy metals, such as lead. The extraction and recovery of lead are the focus of our present study.…”

“…These include the application of the Waelz and Ausmelt processes, which require high operating temperatures (1100−1300 °C), 5,11 the sulfidization-flotation process, 12 and hydrometallurgical leaching. 8,13,14 Metal recovery from ZLR is not only of economic importance but also prevents environmental leaching of heavy metals, such as lead. The extraction and recovery of lead are the focus of our present study.…”