This invention relates to treated geothermal brine compositions containing reduced concentrations of silica, iron, and potassium compared to the untreated brines. Exemplary compositions of the treated brine contain a concentration of silica ranging from about 0 mg/kg to about 15 mg/kg, a concentration of iron ranging from about 0 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg, and a concentration of potassium ranging from about 300 mg/kg to about 8500 mg/kg. Other exemplary compositions of the treated brines also contain reduced concentrations of elements like rubidium, cesium, and lithium.

This invention relates to treated geothermal brine compositions containing reduced concentrations of iron, silica, and zinc compared to the untreated brines. Exemplary compositions contain concentration of zinc ranges from 0 to 300 mg/kg, concentration of silica ranges from 0 to 30 mg/kg, concentration of iron ranges from 0 to 300 mg/kg. Exemplary compositions also contain reduced concentrations of elements like lithium, manganese, arsenic, barium, and lead. Exemplary compositions include Salton Sea brines containing a concentration of zinc less than 10 mg/kg, a concentration of silica ranging from less than 10 mg/kg, and a concentration of iron less than 10 mg/kg.

This invention relates to treated geothermal brine compositions containing reduced concentrations of iron, silica, and zinc compared to the untreated brines. Exemplary compositions contain concentration of zinc ranges from 0 to 300 mg/kg, concentration of silica ranges from 0 to 30 mg/kg, concentration of iron ranges from 0 to 300 mg/kg. Exemplary compositions also contain reduced concentrations of elements like lithium, manganese, arsenic, barium, and lead. Exemplary compositions include Salton Sea brines containing a concentration of zinc less than 10 mg/kg, a concentration of silica ranging from less than 10 mg/kg, and a concentration of iron less than 10 mg/kg.

The present invention relates to a process for reducing the amounts of zinc and lead in starting materials comprising iron which comprises the steps of: selectively leaching Zn and Pb comprised in the starting materials by mixing the starting materials with hydrochloric acid and an oxidizing agent comprising at least 5 wt-% of manganese dioxide in one or several reactor(s) at a temperature superior or equal to 35 C. and at a p H comprised between 0.5 and 3.5, filtrating the mixture obtained in order to separate the solid and the filtrate, washing the solid with water, the resulting solid comprising mainly Fe, a reduced amount of Zn and Pb compared to the original starting materials, recovering the filtrate of step b) and the washing water of step c) which comprise chloride, solubilized Zn and Pb in one or several reactor(s), precipitating solubilized Zn, Pb in the recovered filtrate and the washing water by mixing with a neutralizing agent, filtrating and washing the solid residues obtained in step e) in order to remove the chloride from the solid residues which comprise at least Pb and Zn. The present invention also refers to the use of the materials obtained after treatment in a in a sinter plant and blast furnace or in all pyrometallurgical furnace which value iron such as electrical arc furnace (EAF), cupola furnace, oxycup furnace, submerged arc furnace (SAF), a plasma furnace, rotary hearth furnace.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for smelting a zinc sulfide concentrate, the method comprising the steps of: feeding the zinc sulfide concentrate to a reduction furnace at a known mass flow rate of sulfur; feeding copper metal to the reduction furnace at a mass flow rate of copper approximately three-times the mass flow rate of sulfur; reducing the zinc sulfide to zinc according to the equation ZnS.sub.(l)+2Cu.sub.(l).fwdarw.Cu.sub.2S.sub.(l)+Zn.sub.(g); and fuming the zinc; wherein sulfur is absorbed into the copper metal in the reduction furnace to form a copper sulfide molten matte. The partial pressure of SO.sub.2 in the furnace is maintained below about 10.sup.3 atm and the reduction furnace is operated at a temperature of between about 1240 and about 1300 C.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for smelting a zinc sulfide concentrate, the method comprising the steps of: feeding the zinc sulfide concentrate to a reduction furnace at a known mass flow rate of sulfur; feeding copper metal to the reduction furnace at a mass flow rate of copper approximately three-times the mass flow rate of sulfur; reducing the zinc sulfide to zinc according to the equation ZnS.sub.(l)+2Cu.sub.(l).fwdarw.Cu.sub.2S.sub.(l)+Zn.sub.(g); and fuming the zinc; wherein sulfur is absorbed into the copper metal in the reduction furnace to form a copper sulfide molten matte. The partial pressure of SO.sub.2 in the furnace is maintained below about 10.sup.3 atm and the reduction furnace is operated at a temperature of between about 1240 and about 1300 C.

This invention relates to treated geothermal brine compositions containing reduced concentrations of lithium, iron and silica compared to the untreated brines. Exemplary compositions contain concentration of lithium ranges from 0 to 200 mg/kg, concentration of silica ranges from 0 to 30 mg/kg, concentration of iron ranges from 0 to 300 mg/kg. Exemplary compositions also contain reduced concentrations of elements like arsenic, barium, and lead.

This invention relates to treated geothermal brine compositions containing reduced concentrations of lithium, iron and silica compared to the untreated brines. Exemplary compositions contain concentration of lithium ranges from 0 to 200 mg/kg, concentration of silica ranges from 0 to 30 mg/kg, concentration of iron ranges from 0 to 300 mg/kg. Exemplary compositions also contain reduced concentrations of elements like arsenic, barium, and lead.