794
M. Maccagni and E. Guerrini
Pilot plant
Electrolytic cell
Stripping
Cathodes storage
Fig. 5 Pictures of the EZINEX® demo plant
The plant, shown in Fig. 5, is based on a couple of cells equipped with five
cathodes.
The plant was operated in campaigns and each one of it was characterized by
the introduction of modification trying to further improve the performances of the
process. These modifications are including the impurities management and some
modification of the cell design that are going to be patented and for this reason they
are not going to be mentioned in this paper.
The performance of the last campaign is summarized here below:
• EAFD feed (41% Zn average): 27,000 kg
• Residue (19% Zn average): 14,000 kg
• Operating current density: 300–380 A/m
2
• Plated cathodes: 8250 kg
• Plating efficiency: >96%
• Power consumption (d.c.): 2550–2700 kWh/t Zn
The cathodes were stripped every 25 h and they were smooth and consistent. The
zinc purity was in the range of 99.988–99.993%. These campaigns demonstrated the
viability of the process that also demonstrated to be easy to be operated.
The Integrate INDUTEC ® /EZINEX ® Process
Engitec also developed the INDUTEC
® Process [13], a proprietary system to convert
EAFD to CZO, that is based on a unique induction furnace design. Coupling the
EZINEX
® Process with INDUTEC
® or any fuming process producing CZO creates
a powerful system able to handle a variety of wastes and/or secondaries in a very
simple system. Figure 6 shows a conceptual plant flowsheet with diverse feeds coming
from different industries. Most of these materials are very difficult to process or to
dispose, and subsequently, their treatment is very expensive.
With limited or no modifications to the flowsheet, this block diagram can be
adapted to other potential feeds to be included in the loop. A careful evaluation
can be done to examine each feed and the process requirements. Engitec has also
investigated the possibility of converting zinc concentrate into zinc cathode without
any pyrometallurgical operation. The combination of EZINEX
® and ammonium
chloride pressure leaching has promise, and it is a very attractive technology because
M. Maccagni and E. Guerrini
Pilot plant
Electrolytic cell
Stripping
Cathodes storage
Fig. 5 Pictures of the EZINEX® demo plant
The plant, shown in Fig. 5, is based on a couple of cells equipped with five
cathodes.
The plant was operated in campaigns and each one of it was characterized by
the introduction of modification trying to further improve the performances of the
process. These modifications are including the impurities management and some
modification of the cell design that are going to be patented and for this reason they
are not going to be mentioned in this paper.
The performance of the last campaign is summarized here below:
• EAFD feed (41% Zn average): 27,000 kg
• Residue (19% Zn average): 14,000 kg
• Operating current density: 300–380 A/m
2
• Plated cathodes: 8250 kg
• Plating efficiency: >96%
• Power consumption (d.c.): 2550–2700 kWh/t Zn
The cathodes were stripped every 25 h and they were smooth and consistent. The
zinc purity was in the range of 99.988–99.993%. These campaigns demonstrated the
viability of the process that also demonstrated to be easy to be operated.
The Integrate INDUTEC ® /EZINEX ® Process
Engitec also developed the INDUTEC
® Process [13], a proprietary system to convert
EAFD to CZO, that is based on a unique induction furnace design. Coupling the
EZINEX
® Process with INDUTEC
® or any fuming process producing CZO creates
a powerful system able to handle a variety of wastes and/or secondaries in a very
simple system. Figure 6 shows a conceptual plant flowsheet with diverse feeds coming
from different industries. Most of these materials are very difficult to process or to
dispose, and subsequently, their treatment is very expensive.
With limited or no modifications to the flowsheet, this block diagram can be
adapted to other potential feeds to be included in the loop. A careful evaluation
can be done to examine each feed and the process requirements. Engitec has also
investigated the possibility of converting zinc concentrate into zinc cathode without
any pyrometallurgical operation. The combination of EZINEX
® and ammonium
chloride pressure leaching has promise, and it is a very attractive technology because