AU6526699A - Method for processing zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material - Google Patents

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

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Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Mitsui Mining Smelting Co., Ltd.

2-1-1, Nihonbashimuromachi, Chuoo-ku Tokyo Japan Seiji Ikenobu and Kimihiro Shimokawa Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 Method for Processing Zinc Silicate-containing Zinc Crude Material The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c 1 METHOD FOR PROCESSING ZINC SILICATE-CONTAINING ZINC CRUDE MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material in hydrometallurgical zinc refining, specifically to a method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material, capable of rapidly depositing and precipitating eluted silica in a solid-liquid separable form in processing the zinc silicatecontaining zinc crude material in a sulfuric acid acidic solution.

Description of the Related Art Sc A zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material includes willemite (2ZnO-SiO 2 calamine (2ZnOSiO 2

"H

2 smithsonite (ZnCO 3 a mixture of these ores, calcine obtained by calcining concentrates of these ores and zinc-containing siliceous slags originating from the metallurgy of lead.

g 15 A sulfuric acid acidic solution is used in order to extract zinc from these zinc silicate-containing zinc crude materials.

In this case, both of the zinc and the soluble part of the silica are only dissolved in a sulfuric acid acidic solution, if the acidity of the above solution is as high as pH 3 or less.

20 Silica includes insoluble quartzose silica and soluble silica of a silicate type such o• as zinc silicate or the like. The former is insoluble in the solution in a leaching tank and has good precipitating property and filtration characteristic. Meanwhile, the latter soluble .silica is eluted to be present in a super-saturation state and deposited after a certain time.

However, it tends to be present in a gel form which makes the filtration slow, difficult or even impossible in industrial practice under a low pH condition and has a slow sedimentation velocity, which makes solid-liquid separation in a thickener at the following step difficult.

A part of impurities which are not eliminated by the solid-liquid separating operation described above is transferred to an electrolytic cell without being removed at a purification step which is an after-step in zinc hydrometallurgical process, and the concentration of the impurities contained in an electrolyte is increased to lower a current efficiency in electrolysis to a large extent.

Disclosed as prior arts for solving these problems are hydrometallurgical treatment of siliceous zinc ores Patent 3,656,941) and process for the treatment of material containing zinc and silica for recovering of zinc by hydrometallurgic way Patent 3,954,937 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 50-44917).

The former technique comprises the first step for extracting zinc with a aqueous sulfuric acid having a pH of 1.5 to 2.5 and the second step for adjusting the pH of the IN:\LIBCO2486:JCT extract to 4:9 to 5.3 with a neutralising agent to coagulate silica particles. When a calcine is used as a neutralising agent at the second step, the Zn recovery is reduced, and when CaCO 3 or Ca(OH) 2 is used, the cost is raised, and gypsum is formed, which increases the residue. Accordingly, problems are involved in this case in terms of practical uses.

The latter technique is a method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material with a diluted sulfuric acid aqueous solution as shown in Fig. 1, wherein processing is continued for as long time as, for example, 8 to 10 hours while maintaining the above solution at 70 to 90 0 C; during that time, sulfuric acid is added progressively to lower pH; and the final acid concentration is controlled to 1.5 to 15g/litre, whereby zinc is extracted in the form of a soluble sulfate, and silica is deposited in a crystalline form having good precipitation rate and filtration rate.

However, when a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material is continuously processed with this technique, sulfuric acid is added to lower pH from a high level on a graduated scale, that is, on a multistage scale, and therefore four or more leaching tanks and long crystal-growing time are required so that multistage processing can be carried go out.

Further, there has been the problem that the concentration of a solid matter (pulp) contained in a leaching tank at the first stage becomes high, and therefore a high power stirrer or a lot of a diluting repulp solution for reducing a pulp concentration is 20 required.

Accordingly, when applying the conventional technique described above, there has been the problem that the steps are complicated and the plant and equipment investment cost goes up very much.

"As described above, in acid dissolution of a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material, it has been difficult to carry out effectively both of extraction of zinc from a zinc silicate-containing zinc material and deposition and filtration of soluble silica at simple facilities.

Further, zinc ferrite (ZnFe 2 0 4 contained in a calcine obtained by calcining a zinc-containing ore is dissolved only in the conditions of high temperatures and strong acid, and therefore it is not dissolved at an ordinary dissolving condition to become a leaching residue.

That is, in recovering Zn from a residue containing both ZnFe 2 0 4 and silica in zinc hydrometallurgy, there has been required to develop, as described above, a processing method capable of precipitating silica in a solid-liquid separable form in the conditions of high temperatures and strong acid.

Summary of the Invention An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of conventional techniques and provide a method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material capable of quickly precipitating eluted silica in a solid-liquid separable form in a [N:\LIBC02486:JCT strong acid condition at simple facilities in dissolving the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material in a leaching tank filled with a sulfuric acid-acidified solution to extract zinc.

The first invention relates to a method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material, characterised by maintaining a sulfuric acid-acidified solution in the following conditions in extracting zinc from a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material in a sulfuric acid-acidified leaching tank to obtain a solution having a good solid-liquid separation characteristic: liquid temperature pH 1.5<pH3.0 SiO 2 concentration :SiO 2 <5.0 g/litre In the first invention described above, the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution described above is maintained preferably at a constant value falling in a range of 1.5 or higher and 3.0 or lower. Further, only the single sulfuric acid-acidified leaching 15 tank is preferably used, and the residence time of the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material in the sulfuric acid-acidified leaching tank described above is preferably 3 hours or longer.

The second invention relates to a method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material, characterised by feeding a composition containing silica into a S 20 sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in a sulfuric acid-acidified leaching tank so that Sthe amount of silica contained in the above composition satisfies the following equation in extracting zinc from the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material in the leaching S"tank described above to obtain the solution having a good solid-liquid separation ooooo characteristic: [amount of silica contained in the composition containing silica fed into the leaching tank]/[amount of soluble silica contained in the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude "material fed into the leaching tank] (weight ratio) 0.3 (1) In the second invention described above, the composition containing silica is preferably a leaching residue produced at a hydrometallurgical zinc refining step.

The third invention relates to,' a method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material, characterised by re-circulating and feeding a leaching residue discharged out of a sulfuric acid-acidified leaching tank into a sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in the leaching tank described above so that the amount of silica contained in the leaching residue re-circulated and fed satisfies the following equation (2) in extracting zinc from the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material in the leaching tank described above to obtain the solution having a good solid-liquid separation characteristic: [amount of silica contained in the leaching residue re-circulated and fed into the leaching tank]/[amount of soluble silica contained in the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material fed into the leaching tank] (weight ratio) 0.3 (2) IN:\LIBCI02486:JCT In the second and third inventions described above, the pH of the solution contained in the leaching tank described above is controlled preferably to at most 3.0, and the concentration of sulfuric acid is controlled preferably to at most 100 g/l.

In the second and third inventions described above, the temperature of the solution contained in the leaching tank described above is controlled preferably to 60 0

C

or higher.

Further, in the second and third inventions ,described above, the residence time of the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material in the solution contained in the leaching tank described above is preferably 4 hours or longer.

1o In the first, second and third inventions described above, preferably used as the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material is zinc silicate-containing ore, (II) calcine containing silicate, (111) residue containing both ZnFe 2 0 4 and silicate in a hydrometallurgical zinc refining or (IV) mixture thereof.

Also, in the second and third inventions described above, the leaching residue 15 having an Si content of 10 wt or more produced at the hydrometallurgical zinc refining step described above is preferably used as the leaching residue re-circulated and fed into the leaching tank.

Further, in the third invention described above, preferably used as the leaching residue re-circulated and fed into the leaching tank described above is at least a part of the "20 leaching residue in the leaching tank separated by a solid-liquid separating equipment such as a thickener, a centrifugal separator and a liquid cyclone for carrying out solid-liquid separation of a slurry discharged from the above leaching tank disposed as an after step for the leaching tank described above.

.o..oi Brief Description of the Drawings 25 Fig. 1 is a flow chart of an acidic leaching tank in a conventional technique.

°Fig. 2 is a graph showing the relation of the solution temperatures of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the sedimentation velocity.

Fig. 3 is a graph showing the relation of the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the sedimentation velocity.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the relation of the pH of the sulfuric acidacidified solution with the settling property, the filtration characteristic and the Zn extraction rate.

Fig. 5 is a graph showing the relation of the SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the sedimentation velocity.

Fig. 6 is a graph showing the relation of the SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with time.

Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing one example of the hydrometallurgical treatment according to the present invention.

IN:\LIBC102486:JCT Fig. 8 is a graph showing the relation of the seed addition amount with the sedimentation velocity.

Fig. 9 is a graph showing the relation of the sulfuric acid concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the sedimentation velocity.

Fig. 10 is a flow chart for explaining an experimental apparatus and an experimental method in a continuous process experiment with a serial continuous type leaching tank.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present invention shall be explained below in further detail. The present lO inventors have intensively continued researches and experiments in order to find out extraction conditions in which a solution containing a solid matter having good settling property and filtering property is obtained in extracting zinc from a zinc silicatecontaining zinc crude material in a sulfuric acid-acidified leaching tank. As a result thereof, they have obtained the following new knowledges and and have come to 15 complete the present invention based on the above knowledges.

The three factors of the temperatures, the pH and the SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution are maintained in the specific conditions, whereby not only the excellent Zn extraction rate can be achieved but also silica contained in the solution can be deposited and precipitated in a form having excellent settling property and 20 filtration characteristic (first invention).

A composition containing silica such as a leaching residue discharged out of a sulfuric acid-acidified leaching tank at a hydrometallurgical zinc refining step is fed into a sulfuric acid-acidified solution, whereby eluted silica can quickly be precipitated in a solid-liquid separable form in the same conditions as the acid 25 concentration and the pH of a dissolving solution in a dissolving and extracting processing of zinc (second and third inventions).

The first invention (1).and the second and third inventions shall be explained below in this order.

[First invention] The first invention relates to a method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material capable of carrying out effectively extraction of zinc from the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material and both of deposition and filtration of soluble silica at simple facilities by controlling the three factors of the temperatures, the pH and the SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution.

The content of batch tests which have resulted in achieving the present invention and the results obtained shall be explained below.

The zinc silicate-containing zinc material is added to the sulfuric acid-acidified solution which has been controlled in advance to a predetermined pH in the sulfuric acidacidified leaching tank (capacity: 4 litre) to carry out zinc extraction processing for 4 fN:\LIBC102486:JCT 6 hours while adding a spent electrolyte solution in order to maintain the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution at a predetermined value, and the relation of the temperatures, the pH and the SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the sedimentation velocity has been investigated by the following tests.

The SiO 2 concentration in the sulfuric acid-acidified solution which appears in those tests denotes the grand total of a SiO 2 concentration of ionic silica [Si(OH) 4 in such solution and a SiO 2 concentration of colloidal silica [(SiO 2 in such solution. However, silica induced from insoluble silica present in particular quartz is not included in the total concentration noted here.

More specifically, the total concentration is referred to as the content of SiO 2 reduced from that of Si which is obtained through analysis of ICP (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry) of a specimen solution that has been obtained by filtration with use of a filter paper of 5 class C (1/tm) stipulated by JIS, followed by dissolution of the filtrate in hydrofluoric acid.

o 15 Relation of the temperatures of the sulfuric acid acidic solution with the o• sedimentation velocity: A zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material containing SiO 2 of 6.8 wt was added to the sulfuric acid-acidified solution which was controlled in advance to a pH of 2.2 so that the concentration of zinc crude material became 100 g/l, and the spent S 20 electrolyte discharged from electrolylic cells having a composition of Zn: 58 g/l, H 2 S0 4 198 g/l and SiO 2 0.13 g/l was added to this sulfuric acid-acidified solution to maintain the pH at 2.2. On the other hand, the temperature of the sulfuric acid acidic solution was changed in a range of 60 to 95 0 C to investigate an influence exerted to the sedimentation velocity by the temperature of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution.

25 The SiO 2 concentration in the sulfuric acid-acidified solution is less than 5.0 g/l in the conditions described above.

The relation of the temperature (hereinafter referred to as the solution temperature) of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the sedimentation velocity is shown in Fig. 2.

The sedimentation velocity is the absolute value of the gradient of a straight line obtained by plotting the height of a clear solution to time, wherein the suspension is decanted to measure the height of a clear solution-slurry interface (supernatant liquid face) every one minute.

As apparent from Fig. 2, the sedimentation velocity of the solution is slow at the solution temperatures of lower than 75 0

C.

That is, the depositing speed of solubilised silica contained in the solution is slow at the solution temperatures of lower than 75C. Further, the sedimentation velocity of silica deposited is slow as well, and the solid-liquid separating characteristic is inferior. Accordingly, the solution temperatures of the sulfuric acidacidified solution for extraction have to be 75 0 C or higher.

(IN\ IRC102486:JCT Relation of the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the sedimentation velocity and the Zn extraction rate: The zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material containing SiO 2 of 6.8 wt was added to the sulfuric acid-acidified solution which was controlled in advance to a pH of a predetermined constant value, and a spent electrolyte solution having a composition of Zn: 57 g/l, H 2 S0 4 195 g/l and SiO 2 0.13 g/l was added to maintain the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution at a predetermined constant value falling in a range of 1.0 to 4.0, whereby an influence exerted to the sedimentation velocity by the pH was investigated.

The relation of the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the sedimentation velocity and the Zn extraction rate is shown in Fig. 3.

Further, the relation of the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the settling property and the filtration characteristic of the solution and the Zn extraction ooi percentage is schematically shown in Fig. 4.

As apparent from Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, when the pH is maintained at a predetermined value falling in a range of 1.5 or more and 3.0 or less, preferably 2.0 or more and 2.4 or less without fluctuating it, both of the sedimentation velocity and the Zn extraction percentage are good.

Relation of the SiO 2 concentration in the sulfuric acid acidic solution 20 with the sedimentation velocity: A zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material containing SiO 2 of 14.2 wt was added to the sulfuric acid-acidified solution which was controlled in advance to a pH of 2.2 while changing the addition rate of zinc crude material in a range of 25 to 125 g/l so that the SiO 2 concentration became a predetermined value, whereby an influence 25 exerted to the sedimentation velocity by the SiO 2 concentration in the sulfuric acidacidified solution was investigated.

The relation of the SiO 2 concentration in the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the sedimentation velocity is shown in Fig. As apparent from Fig. 5, the sedimentation velocity is good at the Si02 concentration of 5.0 g/l or less.

Relation of the temperatures, the pH and the SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the solid-liquid separation characteristic: In the items to described above, influences exerted to the solid-liquid separation characteristic by the respective factors of the solution temperatures, the pH and the SiO 2 concentration were investigated.

The results obtained are shown all together in Table 1 As a result of the experiments described above, it has been found that the deviation of any one factor of the temperatures, the pH and the SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution from the optimum conditions cause deposited silica acid to IN-A IRtC1O486:JCT 8 be polymerised and gelatinised and deteriorates the solid-liquid separation characteristic, and therefore the three factors have to satisfy the optimum conditions at the same time.

Table 1 pH Liquid temperature Dissolved Si 2 Settling property concentration and filtering characteristic 1.5<pH_3.0 75°C or higher small (5.0g/l or less) O 1.5_pH_3.0 lower than 75 0 C small (5.0g/l or less) X 1.5<pH3.0 75 0 C or higher large (exceeding 5.0g/l) X 75°C or higher small (5.0g/l or less) X Remark: unsuitable conditions are in italics The reasons for limiting the values in the present invention shall be explained below in further detail.

First of all, the liquid temperature of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution has been controlled to 75 0 C or higher because the temperatures lower than this value retard the S: deposition speed of solubilised silica acid and therefore cause non-deposited solubilised to silica to flow out to a thickener to increase the Si0 2 concentration in an effluent from the thickener.

Further, the liquid temperatures lower than 75 0 C degrade the solid-liquid separation characteristic even if in the condition of the low Si0 2 concentration.

Accordingly, the liquid temperature of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution has been controlled to 75 0 C or higher.

The liquid temperature of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution is more preferably 0 C or higher.

The pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution has been controlled to 1.5 or more and 3.0 or less because the pH exceeding 3.0 reduces the Zn extraction percentage due to non-dissolution of siliceous zinc and the pH less than 1.5 retards the deposition speed of solubilised silica acid and therefore increases the Si0 2 concentration in the effluent from the thickener.

Further, the pH lower than 1.5 degrades the solid-liquid separation characteristic even if in the condition of the low SiO 2 concentration.

Accordingly, the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution has been controlled to or more and 3.0 or less.

The pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution is more preferably 2.0 or more and 2.4 or less.

The Si0 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution has been controlled to 5.0 g/l or less because the SiO 2 concentration exceeding 5.0 g/1 causes silica deposited to be polymerised and gelatinised even at the optimum conditions of the solution rN-\l IRC102486:JCT 9 temperature and the pH and therefore deteriorates the solid-liquid separation characteristic.

The SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution is more preferably g/l or less.

The foregoing concentration of SiO 2 in the sulfuric acid-acidified solution may be adjusted as by supplying the crude material in controlled manner.

The three conditions described above have to be satisfied at the same time, and the solution containing solid matters having a good solid-liquid separation characteristic can be obtained by processing for 3 hours or longer.

Further, the processing of the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material in the condition that the three conditions described above are satisfied makes it possible to extract the whole siliceous zinc only by processing at one stage (or single tank) and obtain the solution having a good solid-liquid separation characteristic.

That is, the present invention makes it possible to carry out processing while 15 maintaining the pH at a fixed value without lowering the pH from a high level on a e graduated scale as is the case with a technique described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 50-44917, and therefore a lot of the leaching tanks for lowering the pH on a graduated scale has not necessarily had to be disposed.

Next, the second and third inventions shall be explained.

[Second and third inventions] The second and third inventions relate to a method for processing the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material, which has made it possible to extract effectively zinc from the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material at simple facilities and obtain the solution having a good solid-liquid separation characteristic by feeding a composition 25 containing silica such as a leaching residue discharged out of the sulfuric acid-acidified leaching tank at the hydrometallurgical zinc refining step into the sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in the leaching tank.

The precipitating speed v of particles is shown by the Stokes equation represented by the following equation v (pp-p).g.Dp 2 /18p. (3) wherein v represents a precipitating velocity; pp represents the density of a solid particle; p represents the density of a liquid; g represents a gravitational acceleration; Dp represents the particle diameter of the solid particle; and [t represents a viscosity coefficient.

The following factors and were assumed by the present inventors as reasons for the deterioration of the settling property in processing the zinc silicatecontaining zinc crude material: increase in the viscosity coefficient in the equation described above caused by the gelatinisation of silica, and IN'\I 18C102486:JCT disturbance of settling based on the charge repulsion of silica particles deposited.

Countermeasures against the factors and described above based on the investigation results obtained by the present inventors shall be explained below.

countermeasure against an increase in the viscosity coefficient [L in the equation described above caused by the gelatinisation of silica: Silica is gelatinised because of the deposition of silica in the state that the oversaturation degree of free silica in the sulfuric acid-acidified solution is large.

On the other hand, Zn 2 SiO 4 which is a soluble silica compound 1O contained in the crude material is readily eluted according to the following equation Zn 2 SiO 4

H

2 S0 4 2ZnSO 4 Si(OH) 4 (aq) (4) However, free silica has as low equilibrium concentration as about 100 ppm and therefore is precipitated according to the reaction of the following equation nSi(OH) 4 (aq) (SiO 2 n 2nH 2 0 15 On the other hand, the reaction rate in the equation described above *i is very fast almost regardless of the pH as shown in Fig. 6, but the reaction in the equation is very slow when the pH is low.

This allows the oversaturation state of free silica to be present.

That is, if the reaction in the equation can be accelerated, eluted 20 silica shall quickly be deposited and precipitated, and the SiO 2 concentration shall be lowered.

It is effective for a countermeasure for accelerating the reaction in the equation to elevate the pH and the temperature of the solution. However, such countermeasure can not be employed in an actual operation because if the pH exceeds 25 3.0, Zn 2 SiO 4 is not eluted and transferred into the leaching residue as a non-dissolved residue, so that the Zn extraction percentage is lowered, and if the solution temperature is excessively elevated, a required energy increases, and therefore the profitability is lost.

From the consideration on the mechanisms of the dissolution of Zn 2 SiO 4 which is a soluble silica compound as described above and the precipitation of silica, the present inventors have found that the reaction in the equation can be accelerated and eluted silica can quickly be deposited and precipitated by feeding as a crystal nucleus (seed), such silica precipitated at an after step in the leaching tank such as a sludge precipitated in a thickener which is an after step in the leaching tank into the leaching tank.

As a result thereof, the oversaturation degree of free silica is decreased in a low pH area, and the inhibition of gelatinisation has become possible.

That is, according to the investigation results obtained by the present inventors, the silica concentration in the sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in the leaching tank has to be maintained at 5 g/l or less as described above, and when the (N:\LIBC)2486:JCT 11 concentration exceeds this level, the gelatinisation of silica is caused, and the settling property and the filtration characteristic of silica is degraded. However, the present invention in which silica is fed to the leaching tank as a seed has made it possible to lower the silica concentration even in an area of the high acid concentration (area of low pH) by adsorbing oversaturated dissolved silica to a seed, inhibit the gelatinisation of soluble silica and enhance the settling property and the filtration characteristic of silica to a large extent.

That is, in the past, it was difficult to dissolve Zn 2 SiO 4 in the case where the pH of the dissolving solution was higher than 3.0. On the other hand, Zn 2 SiO 4 was soluble in the case of pH 3.0. However, the dissolved silica concentration was increased as the acid concentration grew, and a reduction in the settling property of silica and the solid-liquid separation characteristic was caused, so that it was difficult to achieve both of the dissolution of Zn 2 SiO 4 and the separation of dissolved silica. However, the present invention has made it possible to reduce oversaturated dissolved silica and quickly 15 precipitate silica in a form having an excellent solid-liquid separation characteristic without depending on the pH of the dissolving solution by feeding silica as a seed to the leaching tank.

That is, according to the present invention, when the zinc silicate- .containing zinc crude material is dissolved in the sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in the leaching tank to extract zinc, a composition containing silica is fed into the sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in the leaching tank described above so that the amount of silica contained in the above composition satisfies the following equation a= [amount of silica contained in the composition containing silica fed into the above leaching tank]/[amount of soluble silica contained in the zinc silicate- 0 25 containing zinc crude material fed into the above leaching tank] (weight ratio) 0.3 (1-1) The amount of silica contained in the composition containing silica fed into the leaching tank is more preferably an amount satisfying above a of 2 or less.

This is because when ac exceeds 2, a feeding effect thereof is saturated, and an increase in energy such as an electric power required for a feeding pump at an after step in the leaching tank lowers the profitability.

In the present invention, a leaching residue produced at the hydrometallurgical zinc refining step is preferably used as the composition described above containing silica.

Further, in the present invention, silica contained in the dissolution residue produced at the after step in the leaching tank is more preferably fed as a seed into the leaching tank.

In this case, as shown in the examples described later, the residue discharged out of the leaching tank is more preferably re-circulated and fed into the sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in the leaching tank so that the amount of silica fN:\LIBC02486:JCT 12 contained in the dissolution residue re-circulated and fed satisfies the following equation ac [amount of silica contained in the leaching residue re-circulated and fed into the leaching tank]/[amount of soluble silica contained in the zinc silicatecontaining zinc crude material fed into the leaching tank] (weight ratio) 0.3 (2-1) The re-circulating and feeding amount of the leaching residue is more preferably a re-circulating and feeding amount satisfying above a of 2 or less.

In the present invention, the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in the leaching tank is more preferably controlled to 3.0 or less, and the H 2 S0 4 lO concentration is more preferably controlled to 100 g/l or less.

This is because when the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in the leaching tank exceeds 3.0, it is difficult to dissolve Zn 2 SiO 4 and when the H 2 S0 4 concentration exceeds 100 g/l, the dissolution accelerating effect is saturated, and the cost is increased.

Countermeasure against the disturbance of settling based on the charge repulsion of silica particles deposited: The gelatinisation can be inhibited by decreasing the oversaturation degree of silica contained in the solution by feeding as a seed the leaching residue S"described above.

On the other hand, even when the deposited silica particles repulse each other by virtue of a charge and are not coagulated, the suspended silica particles are adsorbed to the seed, and the particle diameter Dp of the solid particles in the equation (3) described above, that is, the particle diameter of silica becomes large, so that the °sedimentation velocity is increased.

25 Further, for making it possible to quickly precipitate eluted silica in a solid-liquid separable form, it is effective to control the temperature of the sulfuric acidacidified solution contained in the leaching tank to 600C or higher and promote the coagulation of the silica particles.

That is, in the present invention, the temperature of the sulfuric acidacidified solution contained in the leaching tank is preferably 60 0 C or higher, more preferably 60 0 C or higher upto the boiling point of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution at atmospheric pressure.

This is because the concentration of dissolved silica in the sulfuric acidacidified solution is lowered as the liquid temperature increases and therefore it becomes possible to qui&kly precipitate dissolved silica in a form having an excellent solid-liquid separation characteristic.

The present invention has made it possible to dissolve and extract the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material at 60 0 C or higher which is a processing temperature at an acid dissolution step and precipitate silica in a form having an excellent solid-liquid separation characteristic by re-circulating and feeding as a seed, the leaching (N:\1BC12486:JCT 13 residue discharged out of the leaching tank into the sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in the leaching tank.

As described above, the present invention has made it possible to dissolve and extract whole zinc silicate only by one stage dissolution processing and quickly obtain the solution having a good solid-liquid separation characteristic.

Next, one example of the hydrometallurgical zinc refining method according to the present invention shall be shown in Fig. 7 by a flow chart.

A crude material containing at least one of a zinc silicate-containing ore, (II) a calcine containing silicate and (III) a residue containing both of ZnFe 2 0 4 and 1 o silicate is dissolved in an acid leaching process and then fed into a thickener A.

An overflow F. from the thickener A is fed into an electrolytic cell via a neutral leaching process, a thickener B and a purification process, and high purity Zn is produced in the electrolytic cell.

An underflow F. from the thickener A is fed into a residue 15 treatment process or a dehydrator, wherein a filtrate coming out of the dehydrator is circulated into the thickener A, and a residue produced in the dehydrator is fed into a blast furnace to recover zinc.

S•In the present invention, at least a part of the underflow F. .from the thickener A in Fig. 7 described above is re-circulated and fed as a seed into the acidic leaching process.

As leaching process, the present invention has made it possible to deposit and precipitate eluted silica in a solid-liquid separable form in a high acid concentration range (low pH range) at inexpensive facilities without providing a lot of the leaching tanks in dissolving the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material such as the 25 preceding crude material in hydrometallurgical zinc refining containing at least one of (I) a zinc silicate-containing ore, (II) calcine containing silicate and (III) a residue containing both of ZnFe 2 0 4 and silicate in the leaching tank filled with the sulfuric acid-acidified solution to extract zinc. As a result thereof, the present invention has made it possible as well to prevent a reduction in a current efficiency caused by impurities contained in the electrolytic cell at the hydrometallurgical zinc refining step.

Examples The present invention shall specifically be explained below in order of the first invention, the second invention and the third invention with reference to examples and comparative examples.

Analysis and measurements were made, by the methods given below, of both the examples and the comparative examples with respect to the SiO 2 concentration in a sulfuric acid-acidified solution, the contents of silica in silica-containing sources fed (added) (also referred to hereunder as seeds), sedimentation velocity associated closely with solid-liquid separation characteristics of solutions (slurries), and filtration rate.

fN:\LIBC102486:JCT 14 [Si0 2 concentration in sulfuric acid-acidified solution] By the dissolved SiO 2 concentration is meant by the total of a Si0 2 concentration of ionic silica [Si(OH) 4 in that solution and a SiO 2 concentration of colloidal silica [(SiO 2 in that solution. This total concentration, however, excludes a concentration of silica arising from insoluble silica present in particular quartz.

To be more specific, the total concentration of SiO 2 is regarded as equivalent to the content of SiO 2 reduced from that of Si which is obtained through analysis of ICP (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry) of a specimen solution that has been obtained by filtration with use of a JIS filter paper of 5 class C (1 followed by 1o dissolution of the filtrate in hydrofluoric acid.

[Amount of silica present in fed (added) silica-containing source (seed)] Analysis were made, by the following methods, as regards the amounts of silica .:.present in leaching residuees (seeds) incorporated in a zinc sulfate solution (Example 4 S. and Example and the amounts of Si0 2 present in thickener settled sludges (thickener 15 underflows) re-circulated and fed into a first leaching tank (Example 6, Example 7 and Comparative Example 4).

Namely, a specimen in a hydrochloric acid-acidified solution of hydrochloric acid/nitric acid of 2/1 (in a volume ratio) was evaporated dry and then dewatered with heat, followed by dissolution of a soluble salt with addition of hydrofluoric acid and by subsequent filtration of the resulting solution.

The settlement (residue) thus made obtainable was vigorously heated to measure its weight after which silicic dioxide was evaporated off by the addition of hydroacid fluoride.

The resultant specimen was again subjected to vigorous heating to thereby 25 measure its weight and the amount of silicic dioxide (the amount of SiO 2 that was insoluble in acid) was counted from a decrease between the two different weights (A B).

[Sedimentation velocity] The sedimentation velocity was defined by the absolute value of the gradient of a straight line obtained by plotting the height of a clear solution-slurry interface to time, wherein the suspension was left decanted to measure the height of the clear solution slurry-interface (supernatant liquid face) every one minute.

[Filtration rate evaluation barometer for filtration characteristic)] A slurry was poured into a funnel having a standard qualitative filter paper (No.

2, 185 mm) put thereon and aspirated by means of a vacuum pump (exhaust velocity: 1/min, vacuum degree: 6.7 x 102 Pa) to determine the filtration rate.

In the following examples, a silica source containing fed (added) silica is referred to as a seed.

[First invention] Comparative Example 1 N:\LIBC102486:JCT A calcine (Zn: 63.7 wt SiO 2 6.8 wt was added to a zinc sulfate solution controlled in advance to pH of 1.0 so that the addition amount of a calcine in the solution became 100 g/l, and a spent electrolyte waste solution (Zn: 57 g/l, H2SO04:198 g/l, SiO 2 0.13 g/l) from the hydrometallurgical zinc refining step was added to maintain the pH of the solution at 1.0, followed by continuing the processing at a solution temperature of 0 C for 8 hours.

The Si0 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution was 2.5 g/l.

After finishing the processing of 8 hours, the sedimentation velocity and the filtration rate were determined as the solid-liquid separation characteristics of the slurry.

lo Comparative Example 2 The calcine was added to a zinc sulfate solution controlled in advance to a pH of 2.2 so that the addition amount of a calcine in the solution became 100 g/l as was the case with Comparative Example 1, and the spent electrolyte was added to maintain the pH at 2.2, followed by continuing the processing at a solution temperature of 70 0 C for 8 hours.

The SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution was 1.8 g/l.

After finishing the processing of 8 hours, the sedimentation velocity and the filtration rate were determined as the solid-liquid separation characteristics of the slurry.

Comparative Example 3 The calcine was added to a zinc sulfate solution controlled in advance to pH of 20 2.2 so that the SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution became 6.2 g/l as was the case with Comparative Example 1, and the spent electrolyte was added to maintain the pH at 2.2, followed by continuing the processing at a solution temperature of 0 C of 8 hours.

After finishing the processing for 8 hours, the sedimentation velocity and the filtration rate were determined as the solid-liquid separation characteristics of the slurry.

Example 1 The calcine (Zn: 63.7 wt SiO 2 6.8 wt was added to the zinc sulfate solution controlled in advance to pH of 2.2 so that the additional amount of the calcine in the solution became 100 g/l as was the case with Comparative Example 1, and a spent electrolyte (Zn: 55 g/l, H 2 S0 4 190 g/l, SiO 2 0.12 g/l) was added to maintain the pH at 2.2, followed by continuing the processing at a solution temperature of 90C for 4 hours.

The SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution was 1.3 g/l.

After finishing the processing of 4 hours, the sedimentation velocity and the filtration rate were determined as the solid-liquid separation characteristics of the slurry.

The above four examples are batch tests.

Example 2 A continuous test was carried out based on the results of the batch tests described above.

That is, a spent electrolyte (Zn: 58 g/l, H2SO04:199 g/l, Si0 2 0.13 g/il) was fed into a serial continuous type leaching tank (5 l/tank x 2 tanks) at an addition rate of tNtj- IR rIn9?4RriI-T 16 1/hr, wherein the calcine (Zn: 63.7 wt SiO 2 6.8 wt was added to the first tank at an addition rate of 800 to 1200 (g/l/hr) so that a pH of 2.2 was maintained, and the spent electrolyte was added to the second tank so that a pH of 2.2 could be maintained to carry out continuous processing at a residence time of 4 hours.

The SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution was 820 mg/1.

The sedimentation velocity and the filtration rate were determined as the solidliquid separation characteristics of an overflow solution from the final tank.

Example 3 As the continuous test, a spent electrolyte (Zn: 55 g/l, H 2

SO

4 195 g/l, Si0 2 0.13 g/1) was fed into a serial continuous type leaching tank (5 l/tank x 4 tanks) at an addition rate of 5.0 1/hr to carry out continuous processing at a residence time of 4 hours.

The calcine (Zn: 63.7 wt SiO 2 6.8 wt was added to the first tank at an addition rate of 800 to 1200 (g/l/hr) so that a pH of 2.2 was maintained, and the spent electrolyte was added to the second tank and the following tanks so that a pH of 2.2 could 15 be maintained.

The SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution was 580 mg/1.

The sedimentation velocity and the filtration rate were determined as the solidliquid separation characteristics of an overflow solution from the final tank.

The test conditions and the solid-liquid separation characteristics in six examples of the examples and comparative examples described above are shown all together in Table 2 99 9 9 IN:\LIBCO12486:JCT a.

a. a

C

C

C

C

as.

CE.

C a *5 Ca a 4, a.

a. S C a 'a Ca S a* a.

C C a a a a a a a U. *ta a a No. Distinction of Sulfuric acid-acidified solution Solid-liquid separation Comparative Example characteristic and Example Temperature pH Dissolved SiO 2 Residence Amount of Test method concentration time calcine Sedimentation Filtration velocity rate (OC) (hr) (gi1) (cm/min) (ml/min/cm') 1 Comparative 9 0 1.0 2.5 8 100 0 0 Example 1 2 Comparative 7 0 2.2 1.8 8 100 0 0 Example 2 batch 3 Comparative 9 0 2.2 6.2 8 100 0 0 Example 3 4 Example 1 9 0 2.2 1.3 4 100 12.0 0.6 Example 2 9 0 2.2 0.82 4 800- 1200 15.9 1.2 1cniuu 6 Example 3 9 0 2.2 0.58 4 800- 120.0 21.1 1.2 In Comparative Examples 1 to 3, any of the pH, the temperatures and the Si02 concentrations of the sulfuric acid-acidified solutions does not meet the conditions according to the present invention, and in all cases, the solid-liquid separation characteristics shown by the sedimentation velocity and the filtration rate are very inferior.

Example 1 is a batch test, and Examples 2 and 3 are continuous tests in which 2 tanks and 4 tanks each are disposed in series, and the pH, the temperatures and the SiO 2 concentrations of the sulfuric acid-acidified solutions meet the conditions according to the present invention. The solid-liquid separation characteristics are good as well in any case 1o of the batch test and the continuous tests.

[Second and third invention] Example 4 °0 The following batch test was carried out in order to investigate the addition effect oooo of silica.

1 5 That is, a zinc silicate-containing zinc ore was added to a zinc sulfate solution which was adjusted in advance to a pH of 1.5 to carry out dissolution and extraction processes for 4 hours in the following conditions.

A spent electrolyte from the hydrometallurgical zinc refining step was added in order to keep the pH constant.

[Dissolution and extraction processing conditions] pH of the zinc sulfate solution in experiment: kept constant at temperature of the zinc sulfate solution in experiment: 70 0

C

addition amount of the zinc silicate-containing zinc ore: 50 g/1 grade of the zinc silicate-containing zinc ore: SiO 2 14.2 wt oi 25 seed: acidic leaching residue having an SiO 2 content of 20 wt obtained at a pH of composition of the spent electrolyte added: Zn 57 g/l, H 2

SO

4 190 g/l, SiO 2 0.13 g/l Shown in Fig. 8 is the relation of the sedimentation velocity (evaluation barometer for the settling property of silica) of the slurry with the addition amount of the seed.

In Fig. 8, a on an axis of abscissa shows a value represented by the following equation a [amount of the leaching residue (seed) added to the zinc sulfate solution]/[amount of soluble silica contained in the zinc silicate-containing zinc ore added to the zinc sulfate solution] (weight ratio) (2-2) As shown in Fig. 8, it has been found that according to the present invention, if a defined by the equation described above is 0.3 or more, the sedimentation velocity markedly increases, and silica eluted from the zinc silicate-containing zinc ore settles down very quickly by adding the seed.

(N:\LIBC102486:JCT

I

19 Example The following batch test was carried out in order to investigate an influence exerted to the sedimentation velocity (settling rate) by the acid concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution in the condition of adding silica in dissolving and extracting a zinc silicate-containing zinc ore.

That is, the zinc silicate-containing zinc ore was added to a zinc sulfate solution which was adjusted in advance to a predetermined pH (acid concentration) to carry out dissolution and extraction processes for 4 hours in the following conditions.

A spent electrolyte from the hydrometallurgical zinc refining step was added in lo order to maintain the pH at a predetermined constant value.

[Dissolution and extraction processing conditions] pH (acid concentration) of the zinc sulfate solution in experiment: kept at a S:1 predetmined value temperature of the zinc sulfate solution in experiment: 70 0

C

15is addition amount of the zinc silicate-containing zinc ore: 100 g/l grade of the zinc silicate-containing zinc ore: SiO 2 6.8 wt seed: acidic leaching residue having an SiO 2 content of 20 wt seed addition amount: seed addition amount satisfying a 2 composition of the spent electrolyte added: Zn 57 g/l, H 2 S0 4 190 g/l, SiO 2 ~20 0.13 g/l Shown in Fig. 9 is the relation of the sulfuric acid concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution with the sedimentation velocity (evaluation barometer for the settling property of silica) of the slurry.

As shown in Fig. 9, it has been found that according to the present invention, silica eluted from the zinc silicate-containing zinc ore settles down very quickly in a range of the high acid concentration, that is, the low pH.

Example 6, Example 7 and Comparative Example 4.

Experiments according to a continuous process were carried out based on the results of the batch tests described above.

The experimental apparatus and the experimental method are shown in Fig. In Fig. 10, 5 represents the first leaching tank having a content volume of 5 1; 6 represents as well the second leaching tank having a content volume of 5 1; 7 represents a thickener; 8 represents a pump; 9 represents a stirrer; and 10 represents a pipe line.

That is, the series continuous type leaching tank was filled with a spent electrolyte from a electrolytic cells, and then a calcine was fed to carry out dissolution and extraction processes in the conditions shown in Table 3.

While carrying out the dissolution and extraction processes described above, an overflow solution from the second leaching tank was sampled to determine the sedimentation velocity and the filtration rate as the solid-liquid separation characteristics of the overflow solution.

[N:\L1BC102486:JCT a I In Example 6 and Example 7, 40 of a thickener precipitated residue (thickener underflow) was re-circulated and fed as a seed into the first leaching tank, and in Comparative Example 4, the thickener precipitated residue was not re-circulated and fed into the leaching tank.

The experimental results are shown in Table 3 together with the experimental conditions.

In Table 3, ac shows a value represented by the following equation a [amount of SiO 2 contained in the thickener precipitated residue (thickener underflow) re-circulated and fed into the first leaching tank]/[amount of soluble silica contained in the calcined zinc ore fed to the first leaching tank](weight ratio) (2- 3) As shown in Table 3, the present invention has made it possible to reduce the SiO 2 concentration of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in the leaching tank and has made it possible as well to inhibit the gelatinisation of soluble silica and notably increase the settling rate of eluted silica. Further, the solid-liquid separation characteristic of the precipitate is very excellent.

9 IN:\LIBC)02486:JCT 21 Table 3 Comparative Example 6 1 Example 7 1 Example 4 PH of solution in leaching tank 1. 5 1. 5 1. Solution temperature 9 0 7 0 9 0 in leaching tank (OC) Residence time of solution 4 4 4 in leaching tank (hr/2tanks) Feed amount of spent electrolyte 2. 5 5. 0 2. [1/(hr -tank)) Zn 5 8 5 5 5 8 Composition of spent electrolyte H 2 S0 4 1 9 9 1 9 5 1 9 9 SiC) 2 0. 1 3 0. 1 3 0. 1 3 Feed amount of calcine (g/hr) 800-1200 800-1200 800h-1200 Chemical analysis Zn 6 3. 7 6 3. 7 6 3. 7 of calcine SiC) 2 6. 8 6. 8 6. 8 Circulating and feeding amount 4 0 4 0 0 of seed M% (thickener under flow) Content of leaching residue 3 6 4 2 (ttinckener under flow) SiCOg amount in seed 7. 2 8. 4- (thickener settled sludge) 0. 4 8 0. 4 8 .~lahigak(g/l) 1. 38 1. 98 6. 2 8 SSedimentation velocity (cm/min) 5. 1 5. 7 0. 0 SFiltration rate (ml/min/cip 0. 7 0. 9 0. 0 II P I 22 The methods for processing the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material according to the first invention to the third invention described above have made it possible to achieve the excellent zinc extraction rate and obtain the solution having good settling characteristic and filtering characteristic and excellent solid-liquid separation characteristics.

Comparing present invention with a conventional technique of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 50-44917 having the most excellent solid-liquid separation characteristics among the prior arts, in the case of continuous processing, the conventional technique inevitably requires a lot of leaching tanks and a processing time of lo 5 hours or longer for growing crystals in the case of continuous processing since acid is added progressively from a high pH level to lower the pH. Further, a strong stirrer or a lot of a repulp solution is required since the leaching tank of the first stage is increased in a pulp concentration.

"In contrast with this, since processing while maintaining the pH at a constant value is possible, the present invention has made it possible to carry out the processing sufficiently well with only one leaching tank without necessitating large scale facilities .:•such as a lot of leaching tanks and refine zinc using a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material at simple facilities.

Further, the present invention has made it unnecessary to employ a high power 20 stirrer or a lot of a diluting repulp solution which is necessitated in the preceding conventional methods in which sulfuric acid is added progressively to reduce pH.

In addition, the present invention can shorten the processing time.

As shown in Examples 2 and 3, a lot of the leaching tanks may be disposed in series in order to further enhance the processing capacity.

Further, conventional techniques other than Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 50-44917 have had the problems that the inferior solid-liquid separation characteristics of the solutions require an increase in the capacity of a thickener or a filter press which is an after step and therefore a lot of investment to the facilities is required and that when solid-liquid separation is insufficient in the thickener or a lot of SiO 2 is present in the solution, a residue flows into a purification stage, and the impurities are dissolved again, which results in increasing an impurity concentration in an electrolytic solution and therefore reducing an electric efficiency in electrolysis to a large extent.

In contrast with this, since the solution having good solid-liquid separation characteristics can be obtained according to the present invention, investment to the facilities is small and the electric efficiency in electrolysis is not reduced at the electrolytic cells as compared with those of conventional methods.

The present invention provides the following excellent effects: It becomes possible to quickly precipitate eluted silica in a form having excellent solid-liquid separation characteristics, and therefore the problem of a reduction in an electric efficiency in an electrolytic cell can be solved.

iN:\LIBC102486:JCT 1 23 It is possible to carry out both of the dissolution and extraction of a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material and the separation of silica at the same time in the same condition of the acid concentration (pH) of the dissolving solutions, and therefore the steps and the facilities are very simple.

A solid-liquid separator of a high capacity such as a thickener and a filter press is not required, and therefore the facilities are of a small scale and simplified.

In contrast with conventional methods in which a calcine, CaC0 3 or Ca(OH) 2 is used as a neutralising agent after dissolving a crude material in a strong acidic dissolving solution to elevate the pH, the present invention is not required to use a neutralising agent and therefore does not have the problems of a reduction in a zinc recovery and an increase in a residue amount.

The separation of silica has become possible in a range of a high acid concentration (low pH range), and therefore the present invention can be applied as well to a ultra-high temperature and strong acidic leaching step, a high temperature and 15 strong acidic leaching step and a preliminary neutralising step at the residue processing step of the hydrometallurgical zinc processing step and has made it possible to recover Zn from various zinc silicate-containing zinc crude materials.

°That is, it has become possible to recover Zn as well from a residue at the hydrometallurgical zinc refining step containing both of ZnFe 2 0 4 which can not be dissolved and extracted without using a sulfuric acid solution of a high concentration and silicate compound.

U U 4 IN:\LIBCi02486:JCT

Claims (6)

1. A method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material, characterised by maintaining a sulfuric acid-acidified solution in the following conditions in extracting zinc from a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material in a sulfuric acid- acidified leaching tank: liquid temperature t 75 0 C pH 1.5 pH SiO 2 concentration SiO 2

5.0 g/litre 2. A method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material according to claim 1, wherein the pH of said sulfuric acid-acidified solution is maintained at a constant value falling in a range of 1.5 or higher and 3.0 or lower. 3. A method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material has a residence time of 3 hours or longer in said leaching tank. 15 4. A method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material, characterised by feeding a composition containing silica into a sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in a sulfuric acid-acidified leaching tank so that the amount of silica contained in said composition satisfies the following equation in extracting zinc from the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material in said leaching tank: 20 [amount of silica contained in the composition containing silica fed into said leaching o*ooo tank]/[amount of soluble silica contained in the zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material fed into said leaching tank] (weight ratio) 0.3 (1) 5. A method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material I* according to claim 4, wherein said composition containing silica is a leaching residue produced at a hydrometallurgical zinc refining step.

6. A method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material, characterised by re-circulating and feeding a leaching residue discharged out of a sulfuric acid-acidified leaching tank into a sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in said leaching tank so that the amount of silica contained in the leaching residue re-circulated and fed satisfies the following equation in extracting zinc from the zinc silicate- containing zinc crude material in said leaching tank: [amount of silica contained in the leaching residue re-circulated and fed into said leaching tank]/[amount of soluble silica contained in the zinc silicate containing zinc crude material fed into said leaching tank] (weight ratio) 0.3 (2)

7. A method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the pH of the sulfuric acid-acidified solution contained in said leaching tank is controlled to 3.0 or lower, and the concentration of sulfuric acid is controlled to 100 g/l or less. N-I 1RC102486:JCT V t

8. A method for processing a zinc silicate-containing zinc crude material according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the temperature of the sulfuric acid- acidified solution contained in said leaching tank is controlled to 60 0 C or higher.

9. A method for processing a zinc silicate-containing crude material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples but excluding the comparative examples. A method for processing a zinc silicate-containing crude material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures 7 or Dated 16 December, 1999 Mitsui Mining Smelting Co., Ltd. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person :SPRUSON FERGUSON 0o