Producing pure lead oxide from exhausted batteries

摘要

An improved process for producing lead oxide in a pure state, from a spent paste obtained from exhausted lead acid batteries; the spent paste is first calcined and desulfurized, and further leached by a concentrated solution comprising an alkali hydroxide at a temperature of above 100{C. The separated solution is contacted with a ketone and precipitated PbO is recovered. The solutions of alkali and ketone are recycled to the process. The preferred alkali constituents are sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, preferably containing also a small amount of sulfate of the respective alkali metal of the hydroxide used.