Lawrence Marvin Litz

Oxygen Reactor for the Goethite-Zinc Leach Residue Process

In the goethite process for the recovery of zinc from neutral leach residue, iron in the hot acid leach solution is removed by an oxidation-hydrolysis step. Results are presented of an in-plant pilot test using oxygen, instead of air, in a new type of gas-liquid reactor. Under flow conditions providing residence times comparable to plant operations, ferrous iron oxidation and goethite precipitation were achieved in one reactor which were equivalent to that attained in three of the plant’s tanks. Goethite precipitate formed during the program was found to filter as good as conventional plant product and to contain less zinc and copper.