Work

An Investigation into Removing Zinc from the Zinc-Bearing Dusts Using the Cold Briquetting-Direct Reduction Process

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study developed a composite binder cold briquetting-direct reduction process for zinc removal and resource recovery from zinc-containing dust. Through systematic briquetting and reduction experiments, the optimal briquette parameters were identified, and the mechanisms of zinc migration and removal during reduction were discussed. The results showed that under optimized reduction conditions at 1275 °C for 25 min and with 4% carbon content in the briquettes, the process achieved a zinc removal rate of 98.25% and an iron metallization rate of 90.54%, indicating high Zn removal performance under the tested conditions. Notably, compared with briquettes prepared with conventional organic binders (OB1), the composite binder (CB1) briquettes exhibited higher compressive strength while maintaining comparable Zn removal and metallization performance. The CB1 offers both economic advantages and improved mechanical strength, being successfully applied in industrial lines. Moreover, this process offers an industrially applicable route for the efficient treatment and resource utilization of zinc-bearing dust in the steel industry.

Source: Metals

DOI: 10.3390/met16010091

Authors: Gen Li, Deqing Zhu, Jian Pan, Congcong Yang, Mingzhou Hou

Institution: Central South University

Language: English

Topic: Iron and Steelmaking Processes

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137