Optimization Study on the Leaching of High Iron-Bearing Zinc Calcine After Reduction Roasting

Abstract

The selective leaching of zinc from high iron-bearing zinc calcine after reduction roasting was optimized by Taguchi experimental design method. The experimental parameters and their ranges were 303 to 343 K (30 to 70 °C) for leaching temperature (T), 7 to 15 mL/g for liquid/solid ratio (L/S), 70 to 150 g/L for H2SO4 concentration (C), 5 to 25 minutes for time (t), and 100 to 500 rpm for stirring speed (R). The results show that the optimum conditions were 303 K (30 °C), 9 mL/g, 110 g/L, 20 minutes, and 400 rpm, respectively. Under these conditions, about 92.81 pct Zn was extracted and more than 86 pct Fe was reported into the leach residue. L/S and C had significant effects on the extractions of zinc and iron, while t and R had no significant effects, and T had significant effect on iron extraction but negligible effect on zinc extraction. This indicates that diffusion was not a major control step of the leaching process, and the dissolution of iron was controlled by chemical reaction. The interactive effects of parameters were negligible. The leach residue was mainly composed of Fe3O4 and ZnS, and its particle size was very fine.