Recovery of lead from battery sludge by leaching and electrowinning

Spent lend acid batteries are a rich source for the production of secondary lead. Pyrometallurgical operation currently practised exploiting this reso urce produces a lot of emission of oxides of sulphur and lead particulates causing atmospheric pollution. This paper examines an alternative approach for the extraction of lead avoiding environmental hazards. Lead in the comp ound form is not amenable for recycling to a large extent. This investigati on is concerned particularly with recovery of lead from non-metallic portio n of the spent battery plates viz. lead sulphate and lead dioxide of active material. Lead was extracted as fluoborate and aspects like desulphurisati on, reduction and leaching were examined for maximum recovery. Finally lead was electrowon from the lead fluoborate solution.