Extraction of useful metals from lead-silver cake in the process of hydrometallurgical zinc production by leaching in calcium-chloride solution

Abstract

This paper shows the result of examining lead, silver cadmium and copper extraction from lead-silver waste cake in the process of hydrometallurgical zinc production. Besides controlling of pH value, the lead-silver cake was leached at high temperature in calcium-chloride aqueous solution of different concentrations, different relations of cake quantities and leaching agent volume and different process duration time. It was noted that, at optimal chosen process parameters, the following can be extracted: approx. 95% of lead and silver, approx. 50% of copper and cadmium, and approx. 40% of zinc. The results show that chloride leaching can be a prospective method for increasing utilization of useful metals in the process of hydrometallurgical zinc production.