Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Two-way Valorization of Blast Furnace Slag: Synthesis of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate and Zeolitic Heavy Metal Adsorbent
Published on: February 21, 2017
Zinc and Lead Leaching from Sphalerite-Galena Concentrate Using Deep Eutectic Solvents Based on Choline Chloride:
Katherine Moreno1, Ximena Díaz1, Diana Endara1
1Department of Extractive Metallurgy, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, P.O. Box 17-01-2759, Quito 170525, Ecuador.
Abstract:
The traditional metallurgical routes for producing lead and zinc from primary sources have a significant environmental footprint. Thus, using less pollutant solvents, such as deep eutectic solvents (DESs), would offer a greener solution in metal extraction. This study explores the use of three DESs based on choline chloride (ChCl) (1:2 ChCl-urea, 1:2 ChCl-ethylene glycol, and 1:2 ChCl-glycerol) for recovering Zn and Pb from a sphalerite-galena concentrate of the mining region in Ecuador. Leaching tests of the concentrate (untreated and roasted at 600 °C) in each DES were conducted (30 °C-24 h). The effect of adding iodine as an oxidizing agent was also evaluated. Recoveries of 2% (Zn) and 14% (Pb) were reported when leaching the untreated concentrate with DES. These recovery values increased to 11% (Zn) and 99% (Pb) after adding iodine during the leaching of the untreated concentrate. Roasting had a similar effect on leaching, increasing the recovery values of Zn (75%) and Pb (90%). Combining roasting as a pretreatment and iodine as an oxidizing agent produced higher Zn recoveries (99%) and Pb (99%). These results were compared to recoveries in acid leaching (H2SO4 and HNO3), revealing the potential of DESs as an alternative for metal recovery from primary sources.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Extraction: Advanced Methods
Washing, Drying, and Ignition of Precipitates
Sample Preparation for Analysis: Advanced Techniques
Acid digestion with strong acids is commonly used to dissolve inorganic materials that are insoluble (do not dissolve) in water. This method can be useful for...
Precipitation and Co-precipitation
Precipitation of Ions
The equation that describes the equilibrium between solid calcium carbonate and its solvated ions is:
Solubility Equilibria
The...

