Nitric Acid → Zinc Nitrate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A hydrometallurgical process for producing zinc oxide from an aqueous solution containing zinc ions is provided. The process comprises the steps of contacting a zinc solution with an insoluble organic solvent selective to the extraction of zinc and thereby produce a zinc-loaded organic solvent. The zinc is then stripped from the zinc-loaded organic solvent with a solution of nitric acid to form a solution of zinc nitrate. The zinc nitrate solution is subjected to thermal hydrolysis at an elevated temperature in the presence of pressurized water vapor, the temperature being at least sufficient to decompose the zinc nitrate to zinc oxide which is thereafter recovered.

Provenance & Evidence