Optimization of selective leaching of Zn from electric arc furnace steelmaking dust using response surface methodology

The aim of this work is to investigate and optimize the effects of the leaching parameters on the selective leaching of zinc from electric arc furnace steelmaking dust (EAFD). The response surface method was applied on the basis of a three-level Box-Behnken experimental design method for optimization of selective leaching parameters of zinc from EAFD. The leaching recoveries of zinc (YZn) and iron (YFe) were taken as the response variables, where the concentration of sulphuric acid (X1, mol/L), leaching temperature (X2, °C), leaching time (X3, min), and liquid/solid ratio (X4, mL/g) were considered as the independent variables (factors). The mathematical model was proposed. Statistical ANOVA analysis and confirmation tests were applied. A maximum of 79.09% of zinc was recovered while the minimum iron recovery was 4.08% under the optimum conditions of leaching time 56.42 min, H2SO4 concentration 2.35 mol/L, leaching temperature 25 °C and liquid/solid ratios. By using ANOVA, the most influential factors on leaching of zinc and iron were determined as H2SO4 concentration and leaching temperature, respectively. The proposed model equations using response surface methodology show good agreement with the experimental data, with correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.98 for zinc recovery and 0.97 for iron recovery.