Novel solvent extraction reagents for recovery of zinc from sulphate leach solutions

Abstract

Despite the ready availability of numerous zinc sources, the process of solvent extn.-electrowinning (SX-EW) has as yet found little favor in the zinc industry. It is suggested that this is largely due to the previous lack of availability of suitable selective reagents having the particular features required to enable them to fit in to a solvent extn.-electrowinning based process for zinc, particularly with regard to strength and selectivity for zinc over iron. This paper describes work on the development of a novel class of selective extractant (DS5846) for the recovery of zinc from weakly acidic sulfate leach solns. and suggests how such reagents might be integrated into new zinc processes.