Selective dissolution of zinc from a complex sulphide ore by controlled-potential hydrochloric acid leaching

摘要

The hydrochloric acid leaching of a complex zinc sulphide ore was investigated with the objective of obtaining selective dissolution. Electro-leaching experiments were carried out using a platinum gauze feeder electrode as a slurry electrode. Electrolysis under an applied potential of -300 mV permitted selective dissolution, with respect to copper, of such metals as zinc, iron and lead from a complex sulphide ore containing sphalerite, covellite, chalcopyrite, pyrite and galena. More than 95 wt percent zinc extraction was demonstrated with less than 0.01 wt percent copper dissolution. X-ray diffraction analysis was used to determine the phases present in both the starting material and the final residue of the leaching tests.