76339 Gangazhe T

Anglo Research (AR) is developing a chloride-based processing route for the recovery of zinc from sulfide ores. The Anglo Research Zinc (tARZn) process incorporates a chloride leach, and solvent extraction (SX) is being considered as a leach liquor purification option for the process. This study aimed to investigate the critical experimental and solution parameters affecting extraction and stripping. Based on preliminary test work and literature review, an anionic extractant (Alamine 336) and two neutral extractants (CYANEX 923 and tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP)) were selected for further investigation. The tetra-chloro zinc complex (ZnCl₄²⁻) was identified as the dominant species in solution at the expected leach liquor compositions. Results indicated that CYANEX 923 had the highest loading capacity of 0.47 M zinc, outperforming Alamine 336 and TBP. Stripping tests demonstrated that TBP could be effectively stripped using both distilled water and a 1 M sodium chloride solution, achieving stripping efficiencies of up to 99%. Consequently, this study concluded that SX could successfully recover zinc from chloride solutions, with TBP being identified as the most suitable extractant for the tARZn process due to the ease of stripping compared to the other extractants.