Review

From pyrometallurgy to hydrometallurgy of lead

 A.G. Kholmogorov^1,*, O.N. Kononova², G.L. Pashkov¹, V.P. Plekhanov¹,             L.V. Shashina<sup>1

1</sup> Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Siberian Department of the Academy of Science, Karl Marx Pr., 42, Krasnoyarsk, 660049 Russia
² Department of Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State University, Svobodny Pr., 79, Krasnoyarsk, 660041 Russia


Accepted 25 March 2005



ABSTRACT

The present review covers different hydrometallurgical schemes for production of metal lead and its compounds, compared to the existing pyrometallurgical scheme. It was shown that chemical breakdown of lead-zinc concentrates in Fe(NO₃)₂ – HNO₃ solutions is the most effective method for their leaching. The PbS oxidation in this system reaches ~98-99% over a period of 15-25min in HNO₃ concentrations range of 0.05-0.5mol/l at 10-30^oC. After this leaching, the Pb(NO₃)₂ solutions (50-120g/l) are formed. Lead and its compounds can be isolated from these solutions by electrolytical method.






Keywords: Lead, Pyrometallurgy, Hydrometallurgy, Lead-Zinc concentrates


* Corresponding author
   E-mail : cm2@bk.ru