Technology Features & Specifications
The novel process is able to:
- Extract and recycle lead from lead acid battery paste using hydrometallurgy method at ambient conditions (60-75 degC, 8 hours, pH 6-8) to produce lead compound including lead citrate, lead nitrate and lead oxides.
- Convert PbS ore (Galena) to metallic lead using nano or micro metallic powder catalysts of aluminum, iron, copper or zinc.
- Dissolve lead sulfate and lead sulfide using water-based solvent, i.e. a mixture of acidic and industrial oxidizers capable of dissolving lead compounds such as nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, formic acid, ammonium citrate solution, sodium citrate solution, citric acid, ammonium acetate or ammonium citrate.
- The product obtained from this process can be recycled or sold.
Potential Applications
- Lead acid battery recycling industries
- Galena ore extraction industry
Market Trends and Opportunities
Lead is a versatile and strategically important metal resource for the industrial development and global economy as it is intrinsically associated with automotive, back-up power and energy storage for renewables. Due to its toxicity, industry related with lead production, recycling, application and consumption must deal with public health and environmental concerns from lead emissions, especially in lead smelting, lead-acid battery production and recycling.
The secondary lead produced by recycling process has gradually become the major source of lead in many areas of the world, which will continue to dominate the global lead market. The secondary lead output in developed countries vastly exceed that of primary lead and globally recycled lead accounts for just over two-third of the world output of refined lead. Generally, discarded lead acid batteries (LABs) are the main resource of secondary lead, more than 85% in the total amount of secondary lead.
As disposing spent lead is not an option, recycling of spent lead-acid batteries has already proved its value. Nowadays, most of the secondary lead recovery plants are based on pyrometallurgical methods. The emission of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and lead-containing particulate matters from the pyrometallurgical route constitute a serious consequence for the local environment and human lives. Furthermore, major lead poisoning incidents and high lead contamination near the lead factory have already been of great concern to the public. Therefore, a new environmentally friendly method for recycling lead is a necessity for this industry.
Customer Benefits
- Environmentally friendly method - use of recyclable solvents.
- Low initial investments and low production cost - only a tank with heating and stirring capability is needed.
- Less energy process and minimal sulfur gas emission - use of non-sulfur compounds in the dissolution process.
- Products can be sold to the industries.
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