The EZINEX ® Process for Secondary
Zinc Bearing Materials
Massimo Maccagni and Edoardo Guerrini
Abstract The problem of zinc production from secondary sources is not yet solved
despite a lot of different alternatives were presented and some of them are under
evaluation. The environmental pressure and the new concept of circular economy are
asking for viable solutions for waste or secondary material. The EZINEX
® Process
is not a new technology but, industrially applied to EAF in the last decade of the
last century and dormant for a long time, is newly generating some interest. Engitec
started revising the old process and found and applied some modifications in order to
revitalize it submitting each unit to a revision work finalized to optimize the process
and to the eliminate the problems we have got in the above mentioned industrial
plant experience. These new solutions were tested during an extensive work done in
a demo plant. The revised process is more flexible and easy to run.
Keywords Zn · Secondary · EAFD · Electrolysis · Ammonium chloride
Introduction
Zinc is a very important metal used in a wide variety of applications throughout our
society. Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. It naturally exists
in the air, water, soil, and the biosphere. Most rocks and many minerals, as well as
humans, plants, and animals, contain zinc in varying amounts. In fact, approximately
5.8 million tons of zinc are naturally cycled through the environment annually by plant
and animal life, rainfall, natural phenomena, and other activity. Zinc is also common
and essential to all life. All living things from the tiniest micro-organisms to humans
require zinc to live as it helps with specific metabolic processes. Additionally, zinc is
found in a number of products we use daily such as cosmetics, tires, cold remedies,
baby creams to prevent diaper rash, treatments for sunburns, and sunscreens. In fact,
M. Maccagni (B) · E. Guerrini
Engitec Technologies S.p.A, Via Borsellino e Falcone, 31, 20026 Novate Milanese, MI, Italy
e-mail: m.maccagni@engitec.com
E. Guerrini
e-mail: e.guerrini@engitec.com
© 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_68
785
Zinc Bearing Materials
Massimo Maccagni and Edoardo Guerrini
Abstract The problem of zinc production from secondary sources is not yet solved
despite a lot of different alternatives were presented and some of them are under
evaluation. The environmental pressure and the new concept of circular economy are
asking for viable solutions for waste or secondary material. The EZINEX
® Process
is not a new technology but, industrially applied to EAF in the last decade of the
last century and dormant for a long time, is newly generating some interest. Engitec
started revising the old process and found and applied some modifications in order to
revitalize it submitting each unit to a revision work finalized to optimize the process
and to the eliminate the problems we have got in the above mentioned industrial
plant experience. These new solutions were tested during an extensive work done in
a demo plant. The revised process is more flexible and easy to run.
Keywords Zn · Secondary · EAFD · Electrolysis · Ammonium chloride
Introduction
Zinc is a very important metal used in a wide variety of applications throughout our
society. Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. It naturally exists
in the air, water, soil, and the biosphere. Most rocks and many minerals, as well as
humans, plants, and animals, contain zinc in varying amounts. In fact, approximately
5.8 million tons of zinc are naturally cycled through the environment annually by plant
and animal life, rainfall, natural phenomena, and other activity. Zinc is also common
and essential to all life. All living things from the tiniest micro-organisms to humans
require zinc to live as it helps with specific metabolic processes. Additionally, zinc is
found in a number of products we use daily such as cosmetics, tires, cold remedies,
baby creams to prevent diaper rash, treatments for sunburns, and sunscreens. In fact,
M. Maccagni (B) · E. Guerrini
Engitec Technologies S.p.A, Via Borsellino e Falcone, 31, 20026 Novate Milanese, MI, Italy
e-mail: m.maccagni@engitec.com
E. Guerrini
e-mail: e.guerrini@engitec.com
© 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_68
785