Chlorine-Oxygen Leaching of a Low-Grade Zinc Sulfide Flotation Concentrate

摘要

The Bureau of Mines conducted laboratory studies to determine the feasibility of chlorine-oxygen leaching for treating low-grade zinc sulfide flotation concentrates. Recovery of zinc sulfides by flotation from complex fine-grained sulfide ores is substantially higher in low-grade bulk sulfide concentrates than in the high-grade cleaned concentrates required for smelter feed. Leaching experiments using reactors of 500-mL and 1-gal capacity were conducted on a bulk concentrate containing 19.3 pct Zn, 35.6 pct Fe, and 39.4 pct S. The effects of pressure, temperature, and percent solids on extraction were investigated. The chlorine-oxygen leaching procedure showed promise for treating the concentrates.