A Critical Review on Generation, Characteristics, and Utilization of Zinc Slag

摘要

Zinc slag (including zinc smelting slag and zinc leach residue) belongs to solid waste from the zinc pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical industry. Generated by the pyrometallurgical process, zinc smelting slag contains a high content of zinc, lead, and cobalt as secondary resource. And zinc leach residue, generated in the zinc hydrometallurgical process, usually contains zinc, germanium, and indium. The large amount of zinc slag discharge causes environmental pollution and resource waste. Reducing the toxicity and increasing utilization of zinc slag are important measures to solve the negative impact of zinc slag on the environment. The review focuses on the utilization of zinc slag. Pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods for metal recovery are summarized. The utilization of zinc slag in construction materials is also discussed. Eventually, the related technological challenges and their possible solutions are described and discussed.