Laboratory study on the removal of fluorine from high fluorine bearing zinc oxide ore

An ever increasing demand for zinc has resulted in worldwide efforts to exploit complex and lean grade reserves of zinc oxide ore. In this study experiments were done on zinc recovery from high-fluorine bearing zinc oxide ore. First the effect of different variables on fluorine removal wash investigated. Optimum experimental conditions occurred when the temperature was 1173 K, roasting time was 90 min and air flow was at a velocity of 5 m/min, the fluorine removal from the samples reached over 93%. The results obtained indicate that fluorine removal is not enhanced by adding diluted sulfuric acid or water as a binder. Second the roasted materials were leached with a diluted sulfuric acid, neutralized, flocculated and filtrated. The residual fluorine content in the leached solutions was less than 38 mg/L, which satisfies the requirement of fluorine content in the leached solutions for the production of electrolytic zinc.