METHOD FOR SOFTENING LEAD BULLION

摘要

Lead bullion is softened with pure oxygen at a temperature in the range of 590 to 650.degree.C without heating the main bullion charge to the required softening temperature. A portion of the charge is diverted to a small softening furnace, heated and softened to remove at least a portion of the arsenic antimony and tin. Slag and softened bullion are separately removed from the furnace. Softened bullion is either returned to the main charge or fed to a separate vessel. The method is conducted batchwise, semicontinuously or continuously.