Synthesis of processes for the production of environmentally clean zinc

Abstract In the light of increasing pressure from environmentalists, increasing processing and dumping costs, expiring dumping concessions, danger of hazardous elements reporting to the ground water due to damaged ponds, a presently decreasing Zn-price and other factors, rethinking and modification of metallurgical Zn process technology are imperative. In order to be able to objectively determine which process options are most feasible and conducive to the production of zinc under the most environmentally friendly conditions a synthesis algorithm was developed. This synthesis model was implemented in and solved by a commercial spread sheet programme Excel 4.0®. In this paper the Zn synthesis system is discussed and various industrially feasible solutions are presented.