Evaluation and Current State of Primary and Secondary Zinc Production—A Review

Abstract

This article presents the history of zinc, its production and demand. The quantity of zinc production, both primary zinc from ores and concentrates, and secondary zinc from scrap and zinc-rich waste, was discussed. A comprehensive economic analysis covers zinc prices in the years 1960–2021. The basic methods of obtaining zinc from ores, including pyrometallurgical (Imperial Smelting Process ISP, Kivcet, Ausmelt) and hydrometallurgical (roasting–leaching–electrowinning RLE, atmospheric direct leaching ADL, Engitec Zinc Extraction EZINEX, zinc pressure leach) and their short characteristics, are presented. The global zinc market and the main areas of its application were analyzed. Technologies used for the recovery of zinc from scrap are discussed along with their characteristics. Galvanized steel is the main source of secondary zinc, both in the galvanizing process and in the remelting of galvanized steel. It can be easily recycled with other scrap steel in the electric arc furnace (EAF) for steel production. Currently, with high volatility in the price of zinc, as well as its natural resources in the earth’s crust, recycling is an important activity, despite the fact that zinc concentrates have a relatively constant chemical composition, while the resulting zinc waste contains zinc in varying amounts.