Method for recycling zinc (Zn)

A method for recycling zinc (Zn), wherein the method comprises the following steps:

• a) providing a feed composition, wherein the feed composition comprises, relative to the total weight of the feed composition, an amount of zinc (Zn) higher than or equal to 40.00 wt. %, and wherein the feed composition further comprises an amount of iron (Fe) ranging from 0.001-7.000 wt. %;
• b) adding the feed composition to a rotary oven;
• c) heating the added feed composition in the rotary oven, while rotating, to a temperature ranging from 420-900° C. for producing a first liquid molten metal phase and a first supernatant dross which under the influence of gravity comes floating on top of the first liquid molten metal phase;
• d) after step c), actively adding aluminum (Al) to the first liquid molten metal phase in the presence of the first supernatant dross, wherein the iron (Fe) present at least partially reacts with the added aluminum (Al) so as to form at least one intermetallic compound, and wherein a second supernatant dross is formed which under the influence of gravity comes floating on top of a second liquid molten metal phase;
• e) after step d), actively adding at least one flux to the second liquid molten metal phase in the presence of the second supernatant dross, followed by at least one segregation step in which the second liquid molten metal phase is at least partially removed from the rotary oven;
• f) adding the removed second liquid molten metal phase into at least one mold for casting the second liquid molten metal phase, or adding the removed second liquid molten metal phase to a casting furnace, wherein the second liquid molten metal phase is kept at a temperature of at least 400° C. in the casting furnace;
• g) casting the second liquid molten metal phase from the casting furnace into at least one mold;
• wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
• h) removing the second supernatant dross from the rotary oven;
• i) subjecting the removed second supernatant dross to at least one crushing step and at least one sorting step for separating at least one zinc fraction and at least one zinc oxide fraction from the second supernatant dross;
• and
• j) adding the at least one zinc fraction obtained in step i) to step a) so as to contribute to providing the feed composition in step a).