Objectives

On completion of this period you would be able to know

• Hydrometallurgy of Zinc which comprises of this

following steps:

• Preparation of ore.

• Leaching and purification.

• Electrolysis.

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 Recap

• Blast furnace method of production of Zinc

(imperial smelting process).

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 Steps in Hydrometallurgy of Zinc

• Preparation and roasting of ore for leaching.

• Treatment of roasted ore concentrates.

• Electrolysis of pure solution.

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 Preparation of ore

• In the case of sulphide ores preliminary roasting is

carried out with two objects.
• ZnS is insoluble in leaching solution, so conversion of
ZnS to ZnO and ZnSO4 is necessary.

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• Formation of Zinc ferrite (ZnO Fe2O3) during roasting is to
be avoided because of insolubility in H2SO4 solution.
• The insolubility of ZnO Fe2O3 accounts for chief loss of
Zinc in electrolytic process.
• Zinc ferrite formation depends on temperature of
roasting, duration of roasting, Iron content of ore and
association of Iron and Zinc.

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 Leaching

• Leaching of roasted ore is carried out in dilute H2SO4.

• All the Zinc in the state of oxide or Sulphate goes into

solution.

• Unwanted substances like Fe, Al2O3 and SiO2 also get

dissolved with Zinc.
• The solution has to be purified.

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 Removal of As and Sb

• As and Sb are removed as ferric antimonates and

arcenates by treating the calcine with ferrous sulphate
and MnO2.

• 2FeSO4 + MnO2 + 2H2SO4 = Fe (SO4)3 + MnSO4 + 2H2O

• Fe2 (SO4) 3 + 2ZnO + 3H2O = 3ZnSO4 + 2Fe(OH) 3
• 4Fe(OH) 3 + H3AsO3 ---------Fe4O5 (OH)5 As + 5H2O
4Fe(OH) 3 + H3SbsO3 ---------Fe4O5 (OH)5 Sb + 5H2O

• As and Sb are precipitated and removed.

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 Removal of impurities

• Cu and Cd remaining in solution as sulphates can

easily be removed by adding powdered Zinc.

• Silica, Alumina and Iron can be removed by addition of

lime.

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Fig-2 Hydrometallurgy flow sheet

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 Electrolysis of Zinc sulphate solution

Zinc is successfully recovered by electrolysis of aqueous

electrolytes
• Zn2+ + 2e = Zn, E0 = -0.76 v
• 2H+ +2e = H2, E0 = 0.000 v

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 Electrolysis tanks

• Tanks used for electrolysis are made of wood or

concrete.

• The interior of wood tank is lined with chemical Lead to

resist the attack of acid.

• If the tanks are concrete, they are lined with Sulphur

sand cement.

• The electrodes are of Aluminium sheet.

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• During electrolysis Zinc is deposited at the cathode.

• The Zinc deposited in the beginning is sponge due to

low acidity.

• If the acidity increases the deposits is more coherent.

• The voltage used for electrolysis is 3.3 to 3.5 with a

current density of 200 to 300 amps/sqft.

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 Summary

• In hydrometallurgy preparation and roasting of ore for

leaching in the most important step.
• Roasting is necessary because ZnS is insoluble in
leaching solution, so conversion of ZnS to ZnO and
ZnSO4 is necessary.
• Formation of Zinc ferrite during roasting is to be
avoided because of insolubility in warm H2SO4
solution.

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• All the Zinc is oxide state are Sulphate state goes into

solution, unwanted substances also dissolved.

• Impurities are removed by adding powdered Zinc.

• Now the Zinc Sulphate solution is subjected to

electrolysis where we get metallic Zinc.

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 Quiz

1.Part of ZnS is to be converted to ZnSO4 to compensate

the loss of

a) HCl

b) H2SO4

c) H2O

d) ZnO
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 Quiz

2. Zinc Ferrite (ZnO Fe2O3) is insoluble in

a) NaOH

b) KOH

c) H2SO4

d) cone HCl

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 Frequently asked Questions

• Write temperature of Zinc ore for leaching

• Write leaching of roasted concentrate of Zinc

• Write process of removal of dissolved impurities in Zinc

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Thank you

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