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1709176 
Journal Article 
THE SODA ASH SMELTING OF LEAD-ACID-BATTERY RESIDUE 
Pickles, CA; Toguri, JM 
1993 
1 
Resources, Conservation and Recycling
ISSN: 0921-3449 
9 
3 
155-177 
WOS:A1993MB41200001 
A pyrometallurgical process for the recovery of lead from battery residue was investigated. The process involved pelletizing the residue with sodium carbonate followed by a carbothermic smelting operation. The overall reaction in the process is as follows: PbSO4(s) + Na2CO3(s) + C(s) = Pb(1) + CO(g) + CO2(g) + Na2SO4 The sulphur dioxide emissions are minimal since the sulphur is fixed in the slag as sodium sulphate. Lead emissions are considerably reduced due to the use of pellets and a lower smelting temperature. The optimum conditions for the maximum recovery of lead were determined. These were: a smelting temperature of 1223 K, a charcoal addition of 3 mass% and a sodium carbonate addition of 20 mass percent. A moisture addition of 10 mass% during pelletizing was found to be sufficient to complete the sulphate-carbonate exchange reaction and to produce a strong green pellet. Sintering of the green pellets prior to reduction was found to have no effect on the lead recovery. However, a minimum in the strength and abrasion resistance of the pellets occurred at 773K. Lead recoveries of 96-98% were achieved and the lead content of the slag was in the range of 1-2 mass%.