EP 3192882 : Method for Production of Potassium Antimony Tartarate by Utilizing Antimony Bearing Residues patent has been developed by ZnTech+ (formerly Central Research & Development Laboratory CRDL), Hindustan Zinc.
The patent describes the process to treat Antimony-bearing by-product of Zinc-Lead smelters and convert it into a value added product, Potassium Antimony Tartarate (PAT). PAT is being consumed by Zinc hydro smelters for purification of Zinc Sulphate solution to produce Zinc metal. The patented process has been commercialized and is running successfully at DSC Ancillary setup since 2016. About 75MT of PAT is produced annually which is consumed internally by HZL hydro smelters.
The R&D team is continuously working on developing HZL patent portfolio. US patent application and Indian patent application on this technology are also under processing. In addition, Hindustan Zinc has filed 4 National and 2 International Patents. The grant of patent provides further recognition of the quality of the innovation being carried at HZL.