Abstract: Disclosed is a method for recovering lead from a scrap which contains lead oxide, lead sulfate and antimony in an oxidized state. The method comprises the steps of:(a) continuously charging a refractory lined reaction vessel with the scrap together with a reductant effective for reducing lead oxide;(b) melting and agitating the charged material by means of a submerged lance at a temperature of from about 900.degree. C. to about 1150.degree. C. whereby some lead oxide of the scrap is reduced to form molten lead;(c) forming a slag layer above the molten lead produced in step (b);(d) maintaining an amount of lead oxide in the slag layer;(e) removing the molten lead, the removed lead having less than 0.5% by weight of antimony; and(f) concentrating as oxide in the slag layer the antimony oxide in the scrap.

Abstract: Lead constituents may be removed from a dross to produce a copper matte low in lead assay by melting the dross at temperature in excess of 900.degree. C., allowing the molten dross to separate into a lead bullion layer and a matte layer, removing the lead bullion layer from the matte layer, then heating the matte layer to a temperature in excess of 1000.degree. C., and removing the lead sulphide therefrom as a fume.