Abstract:Zinc hydrometallurgy has become the mainstream trend of zinc smelting. Sphalerite is main raw material of zinc smelting, iron separation has become a key link in zinc hydrometalluegy. Choice of zinc smelting process is largely choice of zinc-iron separation method. Several main zinc-iron separation methods and process principles, process control conditions, and main economic and technical indicators of zinc hydrometallurgy process of sphalerite were described. Advantages and disadvantages of those processes were analyzed which can provide reference of selection and application of zinc-iron separation methods.