What is the cost-effective method to recover zinc from electric arc furnace dust powder? Follower of metallurgy? Hydrometallurgy? Or bury the powder in the ground?
Zinc recovery from electric arc furnace dust powder can be achieved through pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods. Pyrometallurgical methods require a reduction agent of high costs, such as cokes and high-temperature ambiance. On the other hand, hydrometallurgical methods are less popular than pyrometallurgical methods, but several installations convert EAF dust on an industrial scale. One currently used technology is the EZINEX process, which involves ammonia leaching of dust, cementation-based solution purification, and zinc separation through electrolysis.
Another study proposes a microwave-based approach to recover zinc from electric arc furnace dust using silicon powder as a non-carbonaceous reductant. The results indicate that the reaction proceeded between zinc ferrite and silicon powder, and the maximum removal rate of zinc obtained was 80% in cases where more than ten times the stoichiometric amount of silicon powder was used for a heating time of more than 20 min.
See:
Metals | Free Full-Text | Zinc Recovery from Steelmaking Dust by Hydrometallurgical Methods (mdpi.com)
US6338748B1 - Hydrometallurgical method for recovery of zinc from electric arc furnace dust - Google Patents
Evaporate the zinc and condensate it under controlled oxygen partial pressure.
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