Resource Efficiency Evaluation
of Pyrometallurgical Solutions
to Minimize Iron-Rich Residues
in the Roast-Leach-Electrowinning
Process
A. Abadías Llamas, N. J. Bartie, M. Heibeck, M. Stelter and M. A. Reuter
Abstract 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-LeachElectrowinning 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
A. Abadías Llamas (B) · M. Stelter
Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute for Nonferrous Metallurgy and Purest
Materials, Leipziger Str. 34, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
e-mail: a.abadias@hzdr.de
M. Stelter
e-mail: stelter@inemet.tu-freiberg.de
A. Abadías Llamas · N. J. Bartie · M. Heibeck · M. A. Reuter (B)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology,
Chemnitzer Str. 40, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
e-mail: m.reuter@hzdr.de
N. J. Bartie
e-mail: n.bartie@hzdr.de
M. Heibeck
e-mail: m.heibeck@hzdr.de
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
A. Siegmund et al. (eds.), PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium
on Lead and Zinc Processing, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_31
351
of Pyrometallurgical Solutions
to Minimize Iron-Rich Residues
in the Roast-Leach-Electrowinning
Process
A. Abadías Llamas, N. J. Bartie, M. Heibeck, M. Stelter and M. A. Reuter
Abstract 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-LeachElectrowinning 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
A. Abadías Llamas (B) · M. Stelter
Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute for Nonferrous Metallurgy and Purest
Materials, Leipziger Str. 34, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
e-mail: a.abadias@hzdr.de
M. Stelter
e-mail: stelter@inemet.tu-freiberg.de
A. Abadías Llamas · N. J. Bartie · M. Heibeck · M. A. Reuter (B)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology,
Chemnitzer Str. 40, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
e-mail: m.reuter@hzdr.de
N. J. Bartie
e-mail: n.bartie@hzdr.de
M. Heibeck
e-mail: m.heibeck@hzdr.de
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
A. Siegmund et al. (eds.), PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium
on Lead and Zinc Processing, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_31
351