Exploration of the Synergistic Smelting Behavior of Electroplating Sludge and Lead–Zinc Ore

With the rapid development of China’s zinc-related industries, the grade of zinc concentrate has steadily declined, while the generation of zinc-containing solid waste has shown a significant upward trend. To address this issue, a collaborative smelting process for lead–zinc ores and zinc-containing solid waste has been proposed, aiming to effectively recycle zinc-based solid waste during the processing of lead–zinc ores. This study examined the effects of adding different proportions of electroplating sludge (3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%) to lead–zinc ores on the smelting performance of primary ores. The results indicated that when the addition reached 6% or higher, certain complex compounds were effectively decomposed, while the volatilization rate remained comparable to that of the primary ore. Moreover, increasing the proportion of electroplating sludge not only immobilized part of the lead, reducing its volatilization, but also significantly lowered the melting point of the mixture. The lowest melting point (1199 °C) was observed with a 9% addition; although it slightly increased at 12%, it remained below the melting point of the primary ore. Based on these findings, an optimal addition of approximately 6% electroplating sludge is recommended to maximize the efficiency and benefits of the collaborative smelting process.