Thermodynamics and phase transformations in the recovery of zinc from willemite

Feng Chen; Wei Chen; Yu-feng Guo; Shuai Wang; Fu-qiang Zheng; Tao Jiang; Ze-qiang Xie; Ling-zhi Yang

doi:10.1007/s12613-018-1691-7

Volume 25 Issue 12

Dec. 2018

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials > 2018 > 25(12): 1373-1379

Feng Chen, Wei Chen, Yu-feng Guo, Shuai Wang, Fu-qiang Zheng, Tao Jiang, Ze-qiang Xie, and Ling-zhi Yang, Thermodynamics and phase transformations in the recovery of zinc from willemite, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 25(2018), No. 12, pp. 1373-1379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-018-1691-7

Cite this article as:

Feng Chen, Wei Chen, Yu-feng Guo, Shuai Wang, Fu-qiang Zheng, Tao Jiang, Ze-qiang Xie, and Ling-zhi Yang, Thermodynamics and phase transformations in the recovery of zinc from willemite, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 25(2018), No. 12, pp. 1373-1379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-018-1691-7

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Research Article

Thermodynamics and phase transformations in the recovery of zinc from willemite

+ Author Affiliations

Corresponding author:
Yu-feng Guo E-mail: yfguo@csu.edu.cn
Received: 21 February 2018; Revised: 10 May 2018; Accepted: 14 May 2018

Abstract

Abstract

Willemite is a common component of zinc and lead metallurgical slags that, in the absence of effective utilization methods, cause serious environmental problems. To solve this problem and increase zinc recovery, we proposed a novel extraction method of zinc from willemite by calcified roasting followed by leaching in NH₄Cl-NH₃·H₂O solution. The thermodynamics and phase conversion of Zn₂SiO₄ to zinc oxide (ZnO) during calcified roasting with CaO were investigated. The mechanism of mineralogical phase conversion and the effects of the CaO-to-Zn₂SiO₄ mole ratio (n(CaO)/n(Zn₂SiO₄)), roasting temperature, and the roasting time on zinc-bearing phase conversion were experimentally investigated. The results show that Zn₂SiO₄ was first converted to Ca₂ZnSi₂O₇ and then to ZnO. The critical step in extracting zinc from willemite is the conversion of Zn₂SiO₄ to ZnO. The zinc percent leached in the ammonia leaching system rapidly increased because of the gradual complete phase conversion from willemite to ZnO via the calcified roasting process.
- willemite;
- zinc residues;
- calcified-roasting;
- thermodynamics;
- mineralogical phase conversion

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