Investigation of the Process of Increasing Bismuth Content in Lead Alloys Using the Oxygen Oxidation Method

Bismuth is a promising and environmentally safe metal widely used in various industries, including electronics, medicine and metallurgy. Despite this, its production is associated with a number of technological difficulties due to the low content of bismuth in natural ores and its presence mainly as a by-product of lead processing. The present article is devoted to the study of the method of increasing the content of bismuth in lead alloys using oxygen oxidation. It is shown that lead, which has a high affinity for oxygen, is effectively oxidized and passes into the slag phase, whereas bismuth is concentrated in the metallic phase. Experiments were carried out at 650 °C using boric acid to lower the melting point of the slag and improve its flowability. As a result of five enrichment steps, the bismuth content in the alloy increased from 4.0% to 48.8%. The proposed method demonstrates high selectivity and economic efficiency, which makes it promising for industrial application. The results of the study can be used to develop more environmentally safe and energy-efficient technologies for bismuth lead enrichment, which is especially relevant in the context of growing demand for bismuth in various industries.