Resource Efficiency Evaluation of Pyrometallurgical Solutions to Minimize Iron-Rich Residues in the Roast-Leach-Electrowinning Process


Resource Efficiency Evaluation of Pyrometallurgical Solutions to Minimize Iron-Rich Residues in the Roast-Leach-Electrowinning Process

Abadias Llamas, A.; Bartie, N.; Heibeck, M.; Stelter, M.; Reuter, M. A.

The Roast-Leach-Electrowinning process generates considerable quantities of iron-rich precipitates that must be landfilled, potentially causing a problem for the zinc smelters as well as negatively affecting the society and the environment. The integration of pyrometallurgical flowsheets into existing Roast-Leach-Electrowinning plants is evaluated in this paper. Ten different cases, including Direct Zinc Smelting, ferrite fuming or pyrometallurgical treatment of iron-rich residue, are assessed to find the most resource efficient and environmentally friendly solution to minimize the hydrometallurgical precipitates of the electrolytic process for the zinc production. The simulation-based methodology used provides indicators to evaluate the material recovery and losses, residue production, resource consumption, exergy destruction, and environmental impacts, which are used to find the best alternative that improves the resource efficiency and the environmental impact of the Roast-Leach-Electrowinning process. Furthermore, the social, environmental, and economic impacts associated to the different alternatives are discussed based on the indicators provided by the simulation.

Keywords: Exergy; Thermoeconomics; Process simulation; Sustainability evaluation; Jarosite treatment

  • Contribution to proceedings
    PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium on Lead and Zinc Processing, 23.-27.02.2020, San Diego, United States
    PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium on Lead and Zinc Processing: Springer, Cham, 978-3-030-37069-5, 351-364
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_31
    Cited 6 times in Scopus

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-30802
Publ.-Id: 30802