Abstract:The leaching behaviors of Ga and Ge in ZnS concentrate during high oxygen pressure leach process were investigated experimentally. The effects of molar ratio of sulfuric acid to zinc, leach time, initial Fe2+ concentration in the leach solution, additive amount of sodium lignosulfonic acid, particle size of concentrate and temperature on the leach efficiencies of such elements as Zn, Fe, Ga and Ge were evaluated. The results show that the leach efficiency of Ge is in accord with that of zinc, while the leach efficiency of Ga is relative to that of Fe closely. The key of raising leach efficiency of Ga is to leach Fe in the concentrate adequately, as well as to maintain the acidity of leach solution and protect Fe2+ from oxidation-hydrolysis at high temperature. It is reasonable that using a two-steps countercurrent leach process to treat zinc sulfide concentrate with high content of Ga and Ge, not only can obtain higher leach efficiencies of Ga and Ge, but also make the acidity of the after leach solution less than 20 gH2SO4/L. It is beneficial to the subsequent neutralization.