Process for recovery of metal values from lead-zinc ores, even those having a high carbonate content

Abstract

A chemical, electro-chemical process for recovering meta values from a zinc- or lead-containing material comprises: in a solubilization stage, oxidizing the zinc- or lead-containing material by treating said material with a ferric chloride leach solution; when solubilized lead is present, separating it from the pregnant liquor forming an essentially lead free solution; dividing this essentially lead free solution into two portions; passing one portion of the essentially lead free solution into the anolyte compartment of a Zn.degree. producing electrolysis stage for use as the ferrous ion-containing anolyte thereof; separating iron from the second portion of the essentially lead free solution, forming an essentially iron free solution; passing the essentially iron free solution into the catholyte compartment of said Zn.degree. producing electrolysis stage for use as the catholyte thereof; conducting electrolysis in said Zn.degree. producing electrolysis stage, thereby regenerating ferric chloride leach solution in the anolyte by oxidizing ferrous ions to ferric ions, and reducing zinc ions in the catholyte to Zn.degree.; and recovering the Zn.degree. produced in the electrolysis stage. In a preferred embodiment, the process is adapted to metal recovery from high-carbonate containing ores by use of a multi-step solubilization stage including an acidulation step and a carbonation stage wherein cations such as Mg and Ca are removed from the process liquor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.