Unveiling the power of MgCl2 in extracting zinc from electric arc furnace dust

Natural Zn reserves may be exhausted in the coming decades. Electric arc furnace (EAF) dust is an essential secondary Zn resource. However, the traditional methods for separating Zn from EAF dust are plagued by high energy consumption, large carbon emissions, and severe environmental pollution, which hinder sustainable development. To address these challenges, a novel technology using molten MgCl 2 has been proposed. Under an air atmosphere at 1000°C, the chlorination percentage of Zn can exceed 97%. The ZnCl 2 content in the volatile products can reach up to 85 mass%, with minor impurities consisting mainly of PbCl 2 , KCl, and NaCl. Molten salt electrolysis experiments indicate that removing Pb 2+ and Fe 3+ ions and subsequently preparing metallic Zn is feasible. With its streamlined process, characterized by high efficiency and low energy consumption, this technology offers a clean and sustainable solution for metal recovery from EAF dust.