Pyrometallurgical Recovery of Metallic Zinc from Galvanizing Dust by Using Ammonium Chloride Flux

Having investigated the different reports and various fluxes, ammonium chloride was eventually selected for pyrometallurgical recovery of metallic zinc from the galvanizing flue dust in the present work. This flue dust constitutes 10 to 15 wt.% of galvanizing wastes. The mechanism of ammonium chloride in the extraction of the metallic zinc from the galvanizing dust was explained. Furthermore, the efficiencies of zinc recoveries in the temperature range of 500 to 700 ºC, treating time of 0 to 40 minutes and mixing percentages of 10 to 30wt% fluxes were investigated. The optimum efficiency of zinc recovery was calculated equal to 85% which was observed in the temperature 600ºC, flux mixing ratio of 20wt% and treating time of 20 to 30 minutes.