Extraction of manganese and zinc from their compound ore by reductive acid leaching

Comprehensive utilization of low grade manganese–zinc compound ore containing lead and silver with a method of reductive acid leaching was studied. According to the ?–pH diagram of Mn–Zn–H₂O system, Mn and Zn can be leached simultaneously in the pH range of –2 to 5.61. The results showed that both hydrogen peroxide and sucrose were effective reductants which could intensify the simultaneous leaching of Mn and Zn into leachate as well as enrich Pb and Ag in the residue. 95.88% of Mn and 99.23% of Zn were extracted when the compound ore was leached with hydrogen peroxide in sulfuric acid media, meanwhile the contents of Pb and Ag in the residue were enriched to 13.21% and 489.36 g/t, respectively. When sucrose was used as the reductant, the leaching efficiencies of Mn and Zn separately achieved 98.26% and 99.62%, and contents of Pb and Ag in the residue were as high as 13.92% and 517.87 g/t, respectively.