Application of Fine-Grain Carbon Materials in the Process of Smelting Lead from Battery Paste

The recycling of used lead-acid batteries is currently the main source of lead in the world. More than 50% of the weight of a used lead-acid battery is battery paste, in which lead occurs in compounds with oxygen and sulfur. In pyrometallurgical processes of battery paste, coke or coke breeze is used as a traditional additive acting as a fuel/reducer. Due to the constantly high prices of these materials, research is being carried out to find alternative (equally efficient but cheaper) carbon-bearing materials. Those materials can be technological replacements for coke or coke breeze in pyrometallurgical processes. The aim of the presented work was to check the possibility of using fine-grained carbon-bearing materials, in the form of anthracite dust and coal flotation concentrate, for battery paste processing, as replacements for traditionally used coke and coke breeze. As part of the presented work, the following tests were carried out: thermogravimetric tests using battery paste, processes of smelting battery paste in a pit furnace, and processes of smelting battery paste in a rotary furnace. The research results indicate that fine-grained carbon-bearing materials, in the form of anthracite dust and coal flotation concentrate, can be successfully used as a replacement for traditionally used fuels/reducers.