Electrolytic method for recovery of lead from scrap batteries: scale-up study using 20-liter multielectrode cell

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6692548

Lee, A Y; Cole, Jr, E R; Paulson, D L

Prior work at the Bureau of Mines resulted in the successful development of a bench-scale, combination electrorefining-electrowinning method for recycling the lead from scrap batteries using waste fluosilicic acid (H/sub 2/SiF/sub 6/) as electrolyte. This paper describes larger scale experiments. Anodes cast from scrap battery lead were electrorefined in a 20-L multielectrode cell for 3 to 7 days. The anodes, containing 2 to 2.5 pct antimony, were ideal for obtaining firm and adherent slime blankets. Cathode deposits, assaying 99.99 pct Pb, were obtained, with current efficiencies near 99 pct. Sludge leaching was done in 100-L tanks followed by filtering in 61 cm square vacuum pan filters. Lead of greater than 99.99-pct purity was recovered from the filtrate by electrowinning in a 20-L multielectrode cell using insoluble PbO/sub 2/-Ti (lead dioxide-coated titanium) anodes and pure lead cathodes. The fluosilicic acid electrolyte depleted in lead was repeatedly recycled to leach more sludge, and there was no problem with impurity buildup. The amount of PbO/sub 2/ formed on the anodes during electrowinning was less than 1 pct of the total lead deposited on the cathodes, as long as the phosphorus concentration in the electrolyte was greater than 1.3 g/L. Emissions of lead in air were less than 10 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/, well below the proposed OSHA limit of 50 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Rolla, MO (USA). Rolla Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6692548
• Report Number(s): BM-RI-8857; ON: TI84901561
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250900* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
DISSOLUTION
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTROMETALLURGY
ELECTROREFINING
ELEMENTS
LEACHING
LEAD
LEAD-ACID BATTERIES
LYSIS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
METALLURGY
METALS
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
REFINING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SLUDGES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING