Pilot Plant Test on the Recovery of Valuable Metals from Pyrite Cinder by a Combined Process Based on Chlorinating Roasting

Abstract

A combined process based on the chlorinating roasting was developed in the present paper for the recovery of valuable metals from pyrite cinder, which contained the chlorinating roasting of pyrite cinder mixed with chlorinating agent in the rotary kiln, the collection of chlorinating dust and flue gas, the recovery of Au, Cu, Pb and Zn from the collection through hydrochloric acid leaching, and the recovery of Au from the acid leaching residue through cyanide leaching. Pilot plant test was carried out. The results showed that most of the comprehensive recovery rates of valuable metals were larger than 50% by using the combined process based on the chlorinating roasting, which could prove that the process was promising and helpful to increase the resource utilization rate and reduce the environmental pollution.