摘要 |
A process for recovering lead from scrap lead-acid batteries comprises smelting whole unbroken batteries in a blast furnace having a configuration which minimizes the amounts of flue dust produced. The volatile organic material produced by the combustion of the battery cases and separators and entrained in the furnace exhaust gases are ducted to an after-burner and burned to carbon dioxide while any sulfur dioxide gas combines with metal oxides to form solid metal sulphate including lead sulphate particles which can be collected and recycled into the furnace for further lead recovery. The blast furnace utilized in the lead recovery process is characterized by its wide shaft causing gases to rise at a low velocity, thus enabling a longer time for hot reducing gases generated in the smelting zone to contact and give up heat to the descending charge of scrap batteries, resulting in the maintenance of a cold furnace top. Most of the volatilized lead recondenses on the cold charge, reducing significantly the amount of lead-containing flue dust. Flue dust which is formed during smelting may be collected, and melted, to form an agglomerated product which can be introduced back into the blast furnace.
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