Ammonia Leaching of Zinc from Low-grade Oxide Zinc Ores Using the Enhancement of the Microwave Irradiation

Abstract

AbstractIrradiated roast treatment and the ammonia leaching processing were conducted to deal with the low-grade oxide zinc ores. The ZnCO3phase was hard to be attended, which was the reason for the low leaching rate of the complicated zinc ores. The mineral phase transformation of the ZnCO3phase was generated after the ores irradiated in the microwave at the temperature of 673 K. The irradiated ores generated more small particles, it was the reason that the leaching rate of the complicated zinc ores was increased. When the leaching processing of the irradiated roasted ores was conducted under the conditions of the total ammonia concentration of 6 mol/L, the liquid to solid phase ratio of 11:1, the leaching temperature of 298 K, the leaching time of 150 min and the stirring speed of 400 rpm, 88.3 % of zinc could be achieved, which was the maximum leaching rate of the irradiated ores.