Solid/liquid extraction of zinc from EAF-dust

The solid/liquid extraction of nonferrous heavy metals was investigated. This process may be of technical importance in the upgrading of dust from steel mills and from electrical arc furnaces (EAF-dust). Extraction was carried out with aqueous acetic acid. Objectives of the project were the evaluation of partition data and the investigation of extraction kinetics. The extraction efficiency of the substances in question is in general accordance with the high solubilities of acetates in water. Solubility is negatively affected by excess acetic acid. The dissolution rate of heavy metals of oxidation number (II) is high and can be modeled with a first-order rate law. The results show that acetic acid is an appropriate extractant for separating zinc and lead from oxidic solid feed material.