Sulfidation roasting of low grade lead–zinc oxide ore with elemental sulfur

Low-grade complex Pb–Zn oxide ore is an important source, and the reserve is very great in the world. It is very difficult to obtain Pb and Zn from the source by traditional technology. In this work, a new technology characterized by sulfidation of low grade Pb–Zn oxide ore with elemental sulfur was developed. The effects of temperature, time, particle size and sulfur amount on the sulfidation extent of Pb–Zn oxide ore was studied at a laboratory-scale. The experimental results show that the sulfidation extent of Pb and Zn oxide reaches 98% and 95% under the optimum conditions, respectively. A flotation concentrate was obtained with 38.9% Zn and 10.2% Pb from the materials which was treated by sulfidation, and the recovery of Zn and Pb is 88.2% and 79.5%, respectively.