Zinc

Zinc (from German Zink) is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30.

Zinc production

There are zinc mines throughout the world, with the largest producers being Australia, Canada, China, Peru and the U.S.A. Mines in Europe include Vieille Montagne in Belgium, Tara in Ireland, and Zinkgruvan in Sweden.

Related Topics:
Australia - Canada - China - Peru - U.S.A. - Europe - Belgium - Ireland - Sweden

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Zinc metal is produced using extractive metallurgy. Zinc sulfide (sphalerite) minerals are concentrated using the froth flotation method and then usually roasted using pyrometallurgy to oxidise the zinc sulfide to zinc oxide. The zinc oxide is leached in sulfuric acid and the resulting solution is purified using zinc dust. The metal is then extracted by electrowinning as cathodic deposits. Zinc cathodes can be directly cast or alloyed with aluminum.

Related Topics:
Extractive metallurgy - Zinc sulfide - Sphalerite - Froth flotation - Pyrometallurgy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Another process to produce zinc is flash smelting, a pyrometallurgical process. Then zinc oxide is obtained, usually producing zinc of lesser quality than the hydrometallurgical process.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Zinc oxide treatment has much fewer applications, but high grade deposits have been successful in producing zinc from zinc oxides and zinc carbonates using hydrometallurgy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~