Simulation of an Alternative Direct Leaching Process for High Iron Content Zinc Concentrates

摘要

Conventional RLE process (Roasting, Leaching, and Electrowinning) usually avoids high iron content zinc concentrates due to roaster heat limitations and high zinc ferrite formation, causing losses in zinc recovery. Alternatively, direct leaching processes may recover zinc from this undesired type of concentrate with high yields. In this work, we evaluate the sulfatation process (staged roasting process at lower temperature that favorites the oxidation of sulfides to sulfates) as an alternative and compare it with traditional direct leaching and roasting processes. The simulation showed that sulfatation process might be a good alternative for treating high iron content zinc concentrates in future investments, reducing consumables and generating an extra amount of steam.