Investigation of the assessment of low grade zinc ore by hydrometalurgy methods

In this study, the enrichment of low grade zinc ore was investigated by hydrometallurgical methods. According to the XRD results, the main ore was determined as simithsonite (ZnCO3). According to the results of chemical analysis, Zn was determined as 5.35%. In order to determine the optimum leaching conditions (NaOH concentration, stirring speed, solids ratio, leaching temperature and leaching time) parameters were investigated in the leaching experimental study performed according to the Yates experimental setup. In the leaching process, 10 gr and -0,053 mm grain size samples were used. Optimum leaching condition; determined as 6M NaOH concentration, 400 rpm stirring speed, 1/12 solids ratio, 180 min leaching time and 80 °C temperature.In this study, According to the average (3 repeats) results of the experiments performed according to the optimum leaching conditions, the leaching efficiency of zinc was calculated as 84.31%. The solution obtained as a result of optimal leaching conditions was subjected to electrolysis. Copper electrodes as cathode and aluminum electrodes as anode were used in the electrolysis process. Electrolysis was carried out at room temperature with a current density of 20-30 A/m2 and for 8 hours. At the end of the process, the Zn collected at the cathode was stripped, washed and dried in an oven at 50-60 °C. According to the results, zinc recovery was achieved with 93.7% efficiency. The overall yield of zinc was determined as 79% according to the input grade of zinc after hydrometallurgy and electrolysis process.