Study on separation of tin from a low-grade tin concentrate through leaching and low-temperature smelting processes

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to characterise and separate tin from a low-grade tin concentrate through leaching and low-temperature smelting processes. Parameters such as hydrochloric acid concentration, leaching temperature, smelting temperature and flux composition on iron separation rate, tin yield and grade were optimised. When leaching temperature was 35°C, leaching duration was 2 h and hydrochloric acid concentration was 150 g L⁻¹, maximum iron separation of 99·4% was obtained, and maximum tin recovery of 97·66% with crude tin grade of 97·48% was obtained at 870°C smelting temperature, 120 min smelting duration, 55·0 wt-% sodium carbonate, 12·0 wt-% sodium hydrate and 30·0 wt-% leached residue and 3·0 wt-% of pulverised coal in charge.

Keywords

Tin Tin and iron separation Low-temperature smelting process

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