Method for treating lead anode slime

A method of treating lead anode slime, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a feed mixture comprising lead anode slime;
• (b) smelting the feed mixture in a smelting furnace at a temperature above 1000° C. to smelt the feed mixture and to volatized and remove at least part of antimony (Sb), fluoride (F) and arsenic (As) comprised in the feed mixture to obtain a first metal phase, a lead (Pb) slag and first process gas comprising volatilized Sb, F and As;
• (c) cleaning the obtained first process gas in a venturi scrubber by contacting the said first process gas and a first venturi solution in the venturi scrubber to remove at least part of the Sb, F and As from the said first process gas to obtain a first cleaned process gas at least partly depleted of Sb, F and As and a second venturi solution comprising removed part of Sb, F and As;
• (d) filtering at least part of the obtained second venturi solution to obtain a first venturi slime comprising Sb and a third venturi solution comprising F and As;
• (e) adding a precipitation agent to the third venturi solution to precipitate at least part of F and As and filtering the thus obtained mixture to obtain a fourth venturi solution at least partly depleted of F and As and a F/As precipitate;
• and
• (f) recycling the obtained fourth venturi solution to step (c) as a part of the first venturi solution.