Behavior of calcium lignosulfonate under oxygen pressure acid leaching condition

The behavior of calcium lignosulfonate (CLS) in the oxygen pressure acid leaching process of ZnS concentrate was investigated using total organic carbon assessment (TOC), UV–visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry (GC–MS) as characterization methods. The effect of the CLS degradation products on zinc electrowinning was also discussed. The results showed that the temperature was positively correlated with the degradation of CLS, while the initial acidity had only significant effects in the range of 0–50 g/L and oxygen partial pressure range of 0–0.1 MPa. At an oxygen partial pressure of 0.2 MPa, an acidity of 160 g/L, and a reaction temperature of 150 °C, about 82.4% of CLS was degraded. In the oxygen pressure acid leaching process, CLS underwent polymerization and decomposition reactions, and its aromatic rings and side chain groups were damaged to varying degrees. At 120 °C, CLS was partially converted into sulfonic acids, phenols, and esters of higher molecular weights. At 150 °C, CLS further degraded into lower-molecular-weight aromatic ethers and sulfonic acids with shorter carbon chains. These organics were relatively stable and were the main sources of organic compounds during the oxygen pressure leaching process of zinc concentrates. The addition of CLS had a significant negative impact on zinc electrowinning, which was related to the adsorption of CLS on the cathode surface, enhancing cathodic polarization and inhibiting zinc reduction kinetics. The degradation behavior of calcium lignosulfonate in oxygen pressure acid leaching process of ZnS. [Display omitted] •The degradation of calcium lignosulfonate was positively correlated with temperature.•CLS was not completely degraded in oxygen pressure acid leaching process.•Fe2+ and Cu2+ had almost no effect on the degradation of calcium lignosulfonate.•Calcium lignosulfonate may undergo polymerization besides degradation.•Degradation products of CLS have a negative effect on zinc electrowinning.