UTILIZATION OF JAROSITE GENERATED FROM LEAD-ZINC SMELTER FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS: A REVIEW

Jarosite is a solid waste generated during the hydrometallurgical leaching of concentrates in lead-zinc smelter. It is acidic in nature and contains gangue materials and high concentration of heavy and toxic elements (lead, zinc, sulphur, cadmium, chromium and copper) which are susceptible to leaching. Because of the presence of these heavy and toxic metals in the waste and their leachability, jarosite falls under hazardous waste category as per the prevailing Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling and Trans-boundary Move ment) Rules, 2008. Thus, its world-wide disposal has become a major environmental concern. Thereafter, by small addition of Portland cement and/or lime, the strength of jarosite-treate d materials can be increased.