Resource utilization of electric arc furnace dust: Efficient wet desulfurization and valuable metal leaching kinetics...

Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) is hazardous solid waste containing valuable metals such as iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in large quantities. This presents a considerable recycling issue. This study proposes an integrated and efficient approach to solid waste management. The experimental results demonstrate that the EAFD slurry effectively purifies SO₂ while simultaneously recovering Zn resources. The major active components for desulfurization in EAFD were found to be inc oxide and ZnFe₂O₄, with depletion being the main cause of reduced desulfurization performance. The maximum Zn leaching rate reached 49.35%, and SO₂ 100% removal was achievable under ideal leaching conditions. A shrinkage kernel model analysis of the leaching kinetics showed that the initial apparent activation energy of the Zn leaching reaction was 15.51 kJ mol^-1, suggesting that interfacial chemical reactions were in charge of the process. Based on the experimental and characterization results, a possible mechanism for metal ions leaching during EAFD slurry desulfurization was proposed. This study presents a novel approach for the resource utilization of hazardous solid waste EAFD, offering a sustainable solution for metal recovery and pollution control.