LAUSR

Abstract This work presented a new strategy to comprehensive utilization of hydrochloric acid leaching solution of anode slime bearing fluorine, arsenic, and antimony. Firstly, the fluorosilicic acid and fluorosilicates in the leaching solution were removed by barium chloride. Then the arsenic and antimony in the defluorinated leaching solution were separated by distillation. Finally, As Sb alloy was electrodeposited from the electrolyte prepared with the distillates. Results show that the defluorination efficiency is 97.81% under optimum condition and the residual fluorine concentration decreases from 21.46 to 0.47 g/L. The distillation recovery of As(III) is 97.44% in the defluorinated leaching solution. As Sb alloy can be electrodeposited from the electrolyte containing 5 g/L As(III), 1 g/L Sb(III) and 4 mol/L HCl. The obtained As Sb alloy shows an amorphous structure with a composition of 84.48 wt% As and 15.52 wt% Sb. Moreover, after electrodeposition of As Sb alloy, the electrolyte can be returned to the leaching process and a closed loop for the solution treatment is achieved.