PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LITHARGE (PbO)

摘要

A process and apparatus for the production of litharge, in which molten lead is reacted with oxygen at a temperature above the melting point of litharge, whereby litharge is formed as a liquid product. In a preferred embodiment, oxygen is injected into a bath containing molten lead in such a manner that the velocity of the injected gas as it expands into the bath is at least Mach 1. In order to minimise corrosion of the reaction vessel, its walls are composed of heat conductive material, externally cooled whereby heat is withdrawn from the internal surface thereof, to keep the internal surface temperature preferably below the melting point of litharge, and more preferably below the melting point of lead.