Toward high recovery and selective leaching of zinc from electric arc furnace dust with different physicochemical properties

This work describes highly efficient recovery and selective leaching of Zn from electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) with different physicochemical properties, induced by acid leaching at ambient conditions. The chemical compositions, mineralogical phases, and particle sizes of the EAFDs were analyzed and compared. The effects of leaching time, liquid/solid ratio, acid type, and acid concentration on the selective leaching of Zn were also studied. The EAFD with high Fe/Zn ratio (> 1, EAFD₃) was richer in ZnFe₂O₄ and exhibited larger particle size than samples with low Fe/Zn ratio (< 1, EAFD_1,2). ANOVA analysis revealed that the Fe/Zn ratios of the EAFDs also have a significant effect on Zn extraction (p < 0.005). Selective leaching of Zn with minimum Fe dissolution was obtained at pH > 4.5, regardless of other parameters or sample properties. The maximum Zn extraction rate obtained by the pH control was over 97% for EAFD₁ and EAFD₂, 76% for EAFD₃, and 80% for EAFD₄. The present results confirm that the Fe/Zn ratio can be used to identify EAFDs that permits facile and high-yield Zn recovery, and pH can be used as a process control factor for selective leaching of Zn regardless of any differences in the properties of the EAFD sample.