Zinc extraction from electric arc furnace dust using amino acid leaching

Increasing demand for zinc (Zn) encourages intensive studies in the field of exploration of new resources. One of the potential secondary resource of Zn is electric arc furnace (EAF) dust. Prior studies regarding element recovery from EAF dust involved the leaching process using lixiviant at ambient and elevated temperature. In general, most lixiviants possessed disadvantage including high concentration and high pulp density requirement, unselective metal recovery and risk to the environment. One of the chemicals could be proposed to solve the problems is glutamic acid. In the form of sodium salt (monosodium glutamate or MSG), the amino acid could be applied as a selective and as powerful ligand to bind Zinc ion. In this study, MSG would be tested for zinc recovery from EAF dust. The effect of leaching parameters such as pH, lixiviant concentration, pulp density and leaching time would be monitored.