OPERATION OF THE SHERRITT ZINC PRESSURE LEACH PROCESS AT THE HBMS REFINERY: THE FIRST TWO DECADES

摘要

The Sherritt Zinc Pressure Leach Process has been applied successfully at the HBMS zinc plant inrnFlin Flon, Manitoba since 1993. The HBMS plant was the first commercial application of the two-stagernzinc pressure leach process, which allows for 100% production of zinc by direct leaching, in the absence ofrnroasters. Full design capacity in the pressure leach plant was established within a month of commissioningrnthe two-stage process in Flin Flon and additional zinc production has been achieved using the same leachrnvessels following installation of a larger cellhouse in 2001. Operating data collected since start-up of thernzinc pressure leach plant are discussed in this paper, along with a description of minor element behaviour.