Selection of leaching media for metal dissolution from electric arc furnace dust

The study shows that four media - 10% aqua regia, 1.2 M hydrochloric, 0.94 M citric and 1.5 M nitric acids - resulted in high (>75%) zinc extraction with good Fe selectivity (iron extraction <6% in 1.2 M hydrochloric acid, 10% aqua regia and <15% with 0.94 M citric and 1.5 M nitric acids). Furthermore, these four leaching media showed partial dissolution of manganese (21-35%), chromium (36-65%) and lead (18-60%), although the highest lead removal was achieved with 1.75 M acetic acid. In terms of zinc selectivity, it was found that ammonium outperformed both sodium and potassium hydroxide.