Abstract: The invention provides methods of using concentrated zinc chloride to protect zinc powders formed by electrowinning from oxidation during collection and removal from an electrowinning cell, during periods of prolonged storage and during melting. The invention provides a means of flushing zinc powders from all surfaces of an electrowinning cell and transporting and storing the zinc powders under a concentrated zinc chloride solution. The same concentrated solution can be used with ammonium chloride in a flux solution to melt the zinc powders prior to shaping the molten zinc into briquettes, pellets and the like.