Pb-Zn recovery from a malic leach solution of a carbonate type ore flotation tailing by precipitation and solvent extraction

The recovery of zinc and lead from a malic leach solution of a carbonate type ore flotation tailing by precipitation with sulfuric acid followed by solvent extraction using di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as extractant was investigated. The separation of lead via precipitation was essentially complete from the malic acid leach solution by adding sulphuric acid to reach a pH of 0.25 at 25 degrees C. The precipitate product was identified by XRD as anglesite (PbSO4). The pregnant leach solution after lead precipitation was then subjected to solvent extraction using D2EHPA. The optimum solvent extraction conditions were determined as 10% D2EHPA concentration, 25 degrees C temperature, 10 min contact time and phase ratio of unity. Under these conditions, 99.3% of zinc was extracted into the organic phase at a pH of 4.2 in a single contact alongside a substantial amount of Ca (76.6%), and minor amounts of Fe (19.2%) and Mg (18%). Complete stripping of zinc and calcium from the loaded organic solution along with 47.8% of Mg was achieved at a pH 0.5 under room temperature. No iron stripping was observed from the loaded organic. The zinc content in the loaded strip solution could be enriched and then sent to the electrowinning (EW) stage. It is noted that the calcium and magnesium impurities in the loaded strip solution had no adverse effect on the zinc EW process. Based on the experimental results, a flowsheet was proposed for the recovery of Pb and Zn from the malic acid leach solution. With the proposed precipitation and solvent extraction process, two different material streams are produced.