Technological Research of Zinc Extraction from Elazığ Simitsonite Ore

This study investigates the recovery of zinc from simitsonite (ZnCO3) ore sourced from Elazığ, Turkey, with the objective of determining optimum extraction conditions. Utilizing a series of leaching experiments, the research employs techniques such as sieving and chemical analysis by ICP OES. key parameters such as H2SO4 concentration, leaching time, leaching temperature, liquid-solid ratio, and particle size are systematically evaluated. The results demonstrate that zinc dissolution rates increase with larger particle sizes, elevated temperatures, and longer leaching durations. At optimal conditions of 1M sulfuric acid concentration, 30 minutes of leaching time, 318K temperature, a particle size of -74µm, a liquid-solid ratio of 10mL/g, and a stirring speed of 600rpm, zinc extraction reached 92.83%, while iron extraction was approximately 5.31%. Importantly, lead was found to remain in the leach residue predominantly in the form of lead sulfate, indicating significant losses during the extraction process. This research contributes valuable insights for enhancing zinc recovery methods and addresses critical challenges in the hydrometallurgical processing of simitsonite ores.