Operation data of an enterprise’s ammonia-based electrowinning zinc process

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Current operating parameters and indicators for an ammonia-based electrowinning zinc project in a certain enterprise: 1. Leaching temperature: 80–85°C; zinc ion concentration in the leachate: 60–70 grams per liter； 2. Purification temperature: 75–85°C. The cost of purifying one ton of zinc is around 200 yuan. 3. Electrolysis temperature: 85°C. 4. Current density: 400–500 A/㎡. 5. Cell voltage: 2.7 V. 6. Current efficiency: 92%. 7. DC power consumption for electrowinning: 2450 kWh per ton of zinc sheets. 8. Total alternating current consumption: 3200 kWh per ton of zinc sheets. 9. Ammonia consumption: 180 kilograms of liquid ammonia. 10. Zinc concentration in electrolytic tail liquid: 15–20 grams/liter. 11. Zinc ingot melting rate: ≥95%. 12. Zinc ingot grades: 1# and 0# zinc. Zinc consumption per ton: 1. Total electricity consumption: 3300 kWh. 2. Purification cost: 200 yuan. 3. Ammonia consumption: 180 kilograms of liquid ammonia. 4. Electrolysis additive: 7 kilograms. Based on the above data, even when using zinc calcine as raw material in the ammonia process for zinc production, it performs well enough to be competitive with the traditional acid process; this is even more true when dealing with zinc ash containing various impurities such as high levels of fluorine and chlorine.