Mining, Minerals Processing and Metallurgical Engineering

Assessment of zinc migration behavior and toxicity characteristics in redox smelting of zinc leaching residue

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  • Engineering Research Center of Metallurgical Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction, Ministry of Education, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China;

    b State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China;

    c Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China

Online published: 2026-06-29

Abstract

The effects of key redox smelting parameters, including anthracite addition amount, temperature, and holding time, on Zn migration behavior and toxicity characteristics were investigated. The results showed that CaSO4 in leaching residue promoted the transformation of ZnFe2O4 into ZnSFeS eutectic, hindering Zn recovery and contributing to contamination potential. At temperatures above 1573 K, the ZnS−FeS eutectic in the upper slag was oxidized by O2/(O)slag to form ZnO(s), then converted to chemically dissolved Zn, and finally reduced to Zn(g) by CO. Zn volatilization can be improved by pre-desulfurization or by increasing the oxygen potential. Under optimized conditions, the Zn residual content decreased to 0.22 wt.%, substantially lower than the industrial range of 1.0−3.0 wt.%, thereby reducing environmental hazards.

Cite this article

Heng WANG, Cheng TAN, Yong YU, Rui-jin FAN, Jian-hang HU, Hua WANG . Assessment of zinc migration behavior and toxicity characteristics in redox smelting of zinc leaching residue[J]. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2026 , 36(6) : 1921 -1933 . DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(26)67069-0

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