Optimization of atmospheric leaching parameters for cadmium and zinc recovery from low-grade waste by response surface methodology (RSM)

Abstract This study is focused on the optimization of effective parameters on Cadmium and Zinc recovery by atmospheric acid leaching of low-grade waste by response surface methodology (RSM) and using the Central Composite Design (CCD) method. The effects of parameters including time (0.5–2.5 h), temperature (40–80 °C), solid/liquid (S/L) (0.05–0.09 g/cc), particle size (174–44 mic), oxygen injection (0–1%) and pH (0.5–4.5) were statistically investigated at 5 surfaces. The sample of low-grade waste used in this study was mainly zinc factory waste. Two quadratic models for the correlation of independent parameters for the maximum recovery were proposed. The properties of waste were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the amount of Cadmium and Zinc in the leaching solution. The correlation coefficient (R 2 ) for the predicted and experimental data of Cadmium and Zinc are 0.9837 and 0.9368, respectively. Time, S/L and size were the most effective parameters for the recovery efficiency of cadmium and zinc. 75.05% of Cadmium and 86.13% of Zinc were recovered in optimal conditions of leaching: S/L 0.08, pH 2.5, size 88 µm, 70 °C and 2.5 h. with air injection.