SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLOSED-LOOP RECYCLING OF A LIQUID COMPONENT OF A LEACHING MIXTURE WHEN RECYCLING LEAD FROM SPENT LEAD-ACID BATTERIES

摘要

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for purifying and recycling the lead content from lead-acid batteries. A system (40) includes a reactor (56) that receives and mixes a lead-bearing material (54), a carboxylate source (58), and a recycled liquid component (60) to form a leaching mixture (62) wherein a phase separation device (64) isolates a lead salt precipitate (66) from a liquid component (68) of the leaching mixture (62). The system further includes a closed-loop liquid recycling system coupled to the phase separation device and to the reactor, wherein the closed-loop liquid recycling system receives the liquid component isolated by the phase separation device and recycles a substantial portion of the received liquid component back to the reactor as the recycled liquid component. The closed-loop recycling system optionally comprises a purification device (76), especially configured to remove sulfates from the liquid component without substantially removing dissolved lead salt.