Purification of zinc bearing material solutions containing manganese

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a process for removing at least a portion of a manganese constituent from a zinc-bearng material, comprising the step of subjecting the material to a first oxidation mixture of SO 2 and oxygen, at conditions sufficient to oxidize the manganese constituent

1 . A process for removing at least a portion of a manganese constituent from a zinc-bearing material, comprising the step of subjecting said material to a first oxidation mixture of SO 2 and oxygen, at conditions sufficient to oxidize said manganese constituent.  
     
     
         2 . A process as defined in  claim 1  wherein the material is maintained at a pH sufficient to precipitate manganese while minimizing precipitation of said zinc constituent.  
     
     
         3 . A process for removing at least a portion of a manganese constituent from a zinc-bearng material, comprising the step of subjecting said material to a first oxidation mixture of SO 2  and oxygen, at conditions sufficient to oxidize said manganese constituent, wherein the material is maintained at a pH between 3 and 4 to form a manganese precipitate and no zinc precipitate.  
     
     
         4 . A process as defined in  claim 3  wherein said pH is 3.  
     
     
         5 . A process as defined in  claim 3  wherein said oxygen is in the form of O 2 .  
     
     
         6 . A process as defined in  claim 3  wherein said oxidation mixture includes Air.  
     
     
         7 . A process as defined in  claim 3  wherein the subjecting step occurs at a temperature ranging from about 40 to about 80° C.  
     
     
         8 . A process as defined in  claim 7  wherein the subjecting step occurs at a temperature ranging from 50 to 80° C.  
     
     
         9 . A process as defined in  claim 8  wherein the subjecting step occurs temperature ranging from 58 to 78° C.  
     
     
         10 . A process as defined in  claim 8  wherein the subjecting step occurs at about 70° C.  
     
     
         11 . A process as defined in  claim 8  wherein the subjecting step occurs at about 60° C.  
     
     
         12 . A process as defined in  claim 5  wherein said SO 2 is at a concentration from 0.5% to 10%, with the balance O 2  gas.  
     
     
         13 . A process as defined in  claim 12  wherein said SO 2 is at a concentration from 1 to 8%.  
     
     
         14 . A process as defined in  claim 13  wherein SO 2 is at a concentration from 2to 3%.  
     
     
         15 . A process as defined in  claim 5  wherein SO 2 is at a concentration from 0.1% to 2%, with the balance being Air.  
     
     
         16 . A process as defined in  claim 15  wherein said SO 2 is at a concentration from 0.2 to 14%.  
     
     
         17 . A process as defined in  claim 16  wherein SO 2 is at a concentration Drum 0.4 to 0.6%.  
     
     
         18 . A process as defined in  claim 5  wherein said zinc bearing material is a leach solution.  
     
     
         19 . A process as defined in  claim 5  wherein said zinc material is an electrolyte solution.  
     
     
         20 . A process for removing a manganese impurity from a zinc-bearing solution, comprising the steps of: 
 subjecting the solution to a mixture of SO 2  and oxygen, at conditions sufficient to oxidize said manganese constituent as manganese oxide; and    maintaining the pH of the solution between 3 and 4 to form a manganese with essentially no zinc co-precipitate.