The proportion of secondary lead in the overall balance of its product
ion is continuously increasing, attaining 50-60% in industrialized cou
ntries. Recycling of the metal is one way of decreasing the role of th
e raw material factor in the economy. The proportion of lead batteries
in the balance of secondary lead-containing raw material Is no less t
han 70-75%. Almost all of this raw material is processed by pyrometall
urgical methods, which always involve some ecological danger. An alter
native set of technological operations which include separation of lea
d from the sulfate-oxide fraction by electrolysis of molten media or a
queous solution is of interest. The published data and results of pers
onal studies are summarized in the review.