Investigation of Water-Washing Process Parameters for Removal of Alkali Metals and Chlorides from Electric Arc Furnace Dust (EAFD)

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of a water-washing process, which is part of the acid hydrometallurgical process for recovery of high purity of zinc, on the removal of alkali metals and chlorides (Na, K, Ca, Cl) from Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD). Two EAFD samples with different properties were characterized by particle size, XRD and element analysis, and their washing efficiencies (%) on alkali metals and chlorides were compared according to pH, washing time, liquid to solid (L/S) ratio and number of washings. The results show that the alkali metals and chlorides could be effectively removed by the washing (at L/S ration of 3 for more than 30 min., pH 10~11) while minimizing loss of zinc (<0.1%), in which the washing efficiency was Na-78%, K-76%, Cl >99%, respectively. Na and K could be removed up to 97% and 89% respectively by 3 times of repeated washings. With increased sample volume (10 times) of the mixed (1:1, w/w) sample with two types of EAFD, it was confirmed that the pH(10~11) can be used as the main process control parameter for the washing of the alkali metals regardless of EAFD properties.