Autoclave Precipitation of Iron from Zinc Sulfate Solutions

Abstract

Zinc concentrates processing technology that includes high-temperature roasting – leaching of cinder – purification of leached liquor – electrowinning is the most widely used technology. Purified solution, which is fed to the electrowinning stage, has a high sensitivity to such an impurity as iron. The presence of iron in the zinc electrolyte has a negative influence both on the current efficiency and the quality of the cathode zinc. The application of autoclave equipment for iron removal from zinc sulfate solutions, obtained after the leaching stage of zinc cinder, is described in this article. All experiments were carried out with a model solution of following composition, g/L: 10-33 H2SO4, 1.5 Cu, 5 Mn, 110 Zn, 2.5 Fe. Neutralization and purification of the solution was implemented during low-temperature pressure leaching of the zinc cinder. The optimum conditions for iron precipitation from zinc solution are following: molar flow rate Zn(cinder) / H2SO4 = 1.3, t = 80∘C, τ = 1 hour, PO2 = 0.2 MPa. It was found, that the concentration of iron can be reduced up to 1-2 mg/L, whereas 83.5% of Zn and 52.1% of Cu being recovered into the solution from zinc cinder.