Abstract
This review examines technological and resource factors governing zinc production route selection. The mineralogical form of zinc is identified as the primary flowsheet design criterion: sulfide ores require oxidative pretreatment, whereas non-sulfide ores undergo acid leaching but risk silica gelation. Pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical pathways are compared regarding metal purity, energy intensity, and residue management. Modern intensification methods – microwave pretreatment, ultrasonic cavitation, and surfactant-assisted autoclave leaching – are evaluated as tools targeting distinct rate-limiting stages: matrix liberation, boundary-layer mass transfer, surface passivation. Cross-referencing with recent advances in copper bioleaching and gold microflotation confirms the universal nature of underlying physicochemical barriers.