Zinc oxide, serving as a filler material in numerous products, can be produced through diverse methods, most of which are relatively straightforward. Advances in science and technology have significantly enhanced its manufacturing capabilities. As more manufacturers employ various techniques to produce this material, market supply has stabilized. So, what are the primary production methods for high-quality reagent-grade zinc oxide within the industry?

I. Direct Method

The direct method for producing zinc oxide involves processing waste ash through impurity removal equipment to obtain qualified zinc ash. This ash is then blended with coal and lime according to technical specifications, mixed, and crushed. The crushed material is then pelletized using a coal pellet machine. The zinc-containing pellets are stacked to dry. After drying, the pellets are smelted in a zinc oxide furnace. Through reduction, oxidation, and subsequent cooling and collection, a high-quality reagent-grade zinc oxide product is obtained.

II. Indirect Method

Electrolytically produced zinc ingots are placed in high-temperature-resistant crucibles and heated to a specified melting point. At elevated temperatures, the molten zinc evaporates to form zinc vapor. This vapor reacts with oxygen in the air to produce zinc oxide. This oxidation process emits a bright light while simultaneously lowering the temperature. The resulting reagent-grade zinc oxide particles are then collected via a cooling conveyor tube into a dust collection chamber for cyclone separation. Fine particles are captured using fabric bags, yielding the finished zinc oxide product.

III. Wet Process

Zinc ash reacts with sulfuric acid to form zinc sulfate. This zinc sulfate is then reacted separately with sodium carbonate and ammonia water to produce zinc carbonate and zinc hydroxide, which serve as raw materials for manufacturing reagent-grade zinc oxide. This method is widely regarded by reagent-grade zinc oxide producers as a common production approach due to its relatively low production difficulty and fewer bottlenecks in the manufacturing process.