Leaching of Turkish Oxidized Pb–Zn
Flotation Tailings by Inorganic
and Organic Acids
Muammer Kaya, Sait Kursunoglu, Shokrullah Hussaini and Erkan Gül
Abstract An eco-friendly approach and simultaneous recovery of metals from mine
tailings is still a significant challenge. This study investigates the extraction of zinc
metal from the Kayseri region oxidized lead-zinc (Pb–Zn) flotation tailings by leaching using three different inorganic acids (HNO 3 , HCl, and H 2 SO 4 ) and six different
organic acids (citric (CA), oxalic (OA), formic (FA), ascorbic (AA), malic (MA), and
tartaric (TA) acids). The effects of acid type and concentration, leaching temperature
and time, and solid/liquid (S/L) ratio were studied for maximum Zn dissolution and
minimum Pb, Fe, and As co-dissolution at lowest temperature and leaching time.
For inorganic acids at 1/10 S/L ratio, 1.0 M H 2 SO 4 and HCl concentrations achieved
92% Zn + 0% Pb + 12% Fe at 40 °C leaching temperature and 60 min leaching time
and 92% Zn + 10% Pb + 0% Fe at 80 °C leaching temperature and 30 min leaching
time, respectively. For organic acids, at 1/10 S/L ratio and 1.0 M concentration, 92%
Zn + 8.3% Pb with malic acid at 80 °C leaching temperature and 180 min leaching
time and 91% Zn + 12% Pb with citric acid at 60 °C leaching temperature and
180 min leaching time were achieved. 1.0 M formic acid dissolved about 83% Zn
+ 2.8% Pb at 80 °C and 180 min leaching time. More than 90% Zn dissolution can
be succeeded by using either inorganic acids at 40 °C for 30–60 min leaching time
or organic acids at 60–80 °C for 180 min leaching time. Oxalic acid significantly
dissolved Fe and As without Zn and Pb dissolution.
Keywords Oxidized Pb–Zn flotation tails · Leaching · Inorganic acids · Organic
acids · Zn extraction
M. Kaya (B) · S. Hussaini · E. Gül
Mining Engineering Department, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eski¸ sehir, Turkey
e-mail: mkaya@ogu.edu.tr
S. Kursunoglu
Material Science and Nanotechnology Engineering Department, Abdullah Gül University,
Kayseri, Turkey
© 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_39
447
Flotation Tailings by Inorganic
and Organic Acids
Muammer Kaya, Sait Kursunoglu, Shokrullah Hussaini and Erkan Gül
Abstract An eco-friendly approach and simultaneous recovery of metals from mine
tailings is still a significant challenge. This study investigates the extraction of zinc
metal from the Kayseri region oxidized lead-zinc (Pb–Zn) flotation tailings by leaching using three different inorganic acids (HNO 3 , HCl, and H 2 SO 4 ) and six different
organic acids (citric (CA), oxalic (OA), formic (FA), ascorbic (AA), malic (MA), and
tartaric (TA) acids). The effects of acid type and concentration, leaching temperature
and time, and solid/liquid (S/L) ratio were studied for maximum Zn dissolution and
minimum Pb, Fe, and As co-dissolution at lowest temperature and leaching time.
For inorganic acids at 1/10 S/L ratio, 1.0 M H 2 SO 4 and HCl concentrations achieved
92% Zn + 0% Pb + 12% Fe at 40 °C leaching temperature and 60 min leaching time
and 92% Zn + 10% Pb + 0% Fe at 80 °C leaching temperature and 30 min leaching
time, respectively. For organic acids, at 1/10 S/L ratio and 1.0 M concentration, 92%
Zn + 8.3% Pb with malic acid at 80 °C leaching temperature and 180 min leaching
time and 91% Zn + 12% Pb with citric acid at 60 °C leaching temperature and
180 min leaching time were achieved. 1.0 M formic acid dissolved about 83% Zn
+ 2.8% Pb at 80 °C and 180 min leaching time. More than 90% Zn dissolution can
be succeeded by using either inorganic acids at 40 °C for 30–60 min leaching time
or organic acids at 60–80 °C for 180 min leaching time. Oxalic acid significantly
dissolved Fe and As without Zn and Pb dissolution.
Keywords Oxidized Pb–Zn flotation tails · Leaching · Inorganic acids · Organic
acids · Zn extraction
M. Kaya (B) · S. Hussaini · E. Gül
Mining Engineering Department, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eski¸ sehir, Turkey
e-mail: mkaya@ogu.edu.tr
S. Kursunoglu
Material Science and Nanotechnology Engineering Department, Abdullah Gül University,
Kayseri, Turkey
© 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_39
447