Removal of chlorine from zinc sulfate solution: a review.

Abstract

During zinc hydrometallurgy process, the chloride ions in the materials go into the leaching solution, which have abominable effects on equipment, electrowinning, and environment. So, it is necessary to remove chloride ions from zinc sulfate solution. The present review outlines the current research of removal methods of chlorine by holistically highlighting the advantages and mechanisms. The main techniques used to remove chloride ions from zinc sulfate solution are also discussed in detail. Among the methods, the precipitation method using copper slag to remove chlorine is widely used and the chlorine removal rate is up to 98%. In addition, the combination of electrochemistry and nanofiltration technology can form a closed-loop production process with less waste output and near-zero emissions. In addition, the challenges and possible future directions of chlorine removal from zinc sulfate solutions are also delineated.