Abstract
90% of selenium (Se) originates from the anode slime byproduct of copper electrorefining. A sulfurizing-vacuum distillation process was proposed to remove Hg, a typical impurity element exhibiting high toxicity in metallurgical-grade Se, from high-value waste selenium material (HWSM). 97.7% Hg was removed from the Se sample. It was obtained after the raw material of Se with high amounts of Hg was sulfurized at 473 K for 30 min. It was subsequently sealed in the atmosphere with 5 wt% sulfur addition and then underwent the first-stage vacuum distillation at 523 K for 60 min under 1–10 Pa. Moreover, 99.84% Hg was removed from the HWSM after the secondary distillation at 473 K for 60 min under 1–10 Pa. In the mentioned process, no waste gases and materials were produced. Compared with other metallurgical methods of removing Hg from the HWSM, this study demonstrated a clean, short, efficient and low energy consumption route.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (U1902221); Plan of Yunling Scholars Project of Yunnan Province, the Scientist Studio of Yunnan Province, the Leading Talents of Industrial Technology in Ten Thousand Talents Plan of Yunnan Province.
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Luo, H., Zha, G., Liu, L. et al. Sustainable and Clean Approach to Remove High Toxicity Element from High-Value Waste Selenium Material. J. Sustain. Metall. 8, 112–121 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-021-00474-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-021-00474-9