The Intec Zinc Process is a patented hydrometallurgical process for the production of high purity zinc metal and associated by-products from metallurgically complex sulphide concentrates.
The process is based on the same chemistry as the Intec Copper Process, producing high purity zinc from a purified chloride-bromide electrolyte of slightly different composition to that of the Intec Copper Process. During electrowinning, the same mixed halide species, BrCl2- (HalexTM), that is integral to the Intec Copper Process, is generated in solution at the anode and exhibits powerful leaching characteristics capable of directly leaching the sulphide concentrate feed. The need to roast the concentrate prior to leaching, as is practised in the conventional Roast/Leach/Electrowin (RLE) process, is thus eliminated whilst a range of by-products (notably lead, copper and precious metals) can be extracted in the simple, single-stage leach.
With the exception of the single-stage leach, the Intec Zinc Process resembles in concept the hydrometallurgical processes employed in the sulphate medium for the treatment of the calcine product from roasting. In particular, the purification step in the Intec Zinc Process relies heavily on cementation, whilst zinc is electrowon in the form of plate.
Description of the Intec Zinc Process
For a detailed description of the Intec Zinc Process, the following document in PDF format is available for download.
The Intec Zinc Process.pdf (Acrobat PDF Document, 169Kb)
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THE INTEC ZINC PROCESS read onscreen.pdf (Acrobat PDF Document, 179Kb)
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Proving the Intec Zinc Process
The Intec Zinc Process was successfully proven at the Burnie Demonstration Plant.
For more information, contact Intec’s Technical Director:
John Moyes Intec Ltd
Phone: +612-9351-6741
Fax: +612-9351-7180
Email: john@www.intec.com.au
Click here to view the Intec Hellyer Metals Demonstration plant.