Abstract: An apparatus for continuously refining molten crude lead including a furnace for removal of antimony from the crude lead regardless of whether the crude lead does or does not contain arsenic and/or tin. The furnace is of the reverberatory type having a plurality of transverse walls dividing the interior thereof and thus the lead into a number of distinct but connected compartments with the passageways through the transverse walls being staggered so that molten lead passes along a zigzag or tortuous path through the furnace which is lined with a refractory material. Air is injected into the molten crude lead as it passes from the inlet end of the furnace to the discharge end for progressive softening of the crude lead. The low antimony content slags produced near the lead discharge end of the furnace becomes progressively enriched in antimony as they react with the higher antimony content metal as they pass toward the lead inlet end where they are discharged at a slag overflow device.

Abstract: A reactor for reclaiming lead and other metals from scrap batteries which includes two reaction chambers with the upper end of one chamber having a scrap feeding mechanism and at least one burner to melt lead and other metals and ignite organic materials. The chambers are interconnected at their low points for gravity flow of molten metal into a sump. The other reaction chamber is connected with an exhaust system and provided with baffles to retain gases for a predetermined time. The sump includes a tap for slag and a siphon discharge for molten lead. Also, air or oxygen may be introduced into the reaction chambers and/or the sump.

Abstract: A process for recovering lead from scrap lead-acid batteries comprises smelting whole unbroken batteries in a blast furnace having a configuration which minimizes the amounts of flue dust produced. The volatile organic material produced by the combustion of the battery cases and separators and entrained in the furnace exhaust gases are ducted to an after-burner and burned to carbon dioxide while any sulfur dioxide gas combines with metal oxides to form solid metal sulphate including lead sulphate particles which can be collected and recycled into the furnace for further lead recovery. The blast furnace utilized in the lead recovery process is characterized by its wide shaft causing gases to rise at a low velocity, thus enabling a longer time for hot reducing gases generated in the smelting zone to contact and give up heat to the descending charge of scrap batteries, resulting in the maintenance of a cold furnace top.

Abstract: A method for pretreating of flue dust having a content of lead therein, by which method the flue dust is fused at a relatively low temperature without any substantial reduction taking place, whereupon the slag thus formed is cooled until solidification, reagents for the improvement of the process and/or the material being added at one or more of the process steps before, during or after fusion of the flue dust, said reagents comprising slag-forming chemicals, a material for raising the melting temperatures, and a ferrous reduction agent.