LLC “UMMC-Holding”, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Russia:

A. M. Panshin, Technical Director

LLC “Uraltsink”, Ekaterinburg, Russia:
R. M. Shakirzyanov, Commercial Officer

JSC “Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant”, Chelyabinsk, Russia:
P. A. Izbrekht, Chief Executive Officer, e-mail: vab@zinc.ru
A. V. Zatonskiy, Technical Director

This article gives an overview of the main production development trends at Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant, including all stages of the process. There are considered the activities, which were implemented or are planned to be implemented in calcination shop, leaching shop, complex of zinc electrolysis, Waelz shop, sulfuric acid shop and hydrometallurgical shop. There is shown the connection between all carried out improvements with increasing of environmentally friendly production. In 2014, a record amount of zinc (about 183 thousand tons) was produced by the enterprise. About 15 tons of copper plant dusts were involved in the processing. The second large-dimensioned rotary kiln (4 m diameter, 60 m length) was built. Capacity of new water circulation of the sulfuric acid plant was up to 5000 m³/h, which allowed to increase sulfuric acid production reliability during operation at maximum loads. Current density during cadmium electrolysis was increased from 70 to 90 A/m². Currently, capacity of Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant is increased to 200 thousand tons per year of commercial zinc production. The site оf charge preparation with capacity of about 100 tons per year for rotary kilns is developed. Technological regulation is worked out and a project of hydrometallurgical plant expanding for increasing number of Waelz oxide processing is undertaken. There is carried out the preparation for construction of pilot plant of zinc cake flotation, using flotation machine CFM. Technology of industrial wastewater treatment to produce a commercial product in the form of halite and Glauber's salt is tested on the pilot plant. For the first time, this technology is implemented for zinc production, with a prospect of provision of 100% return of drains into the production.