Manufacture of lead from sulphidic lead raw material

Abstract

Lead is recovered from sulphidic lead raw-material containing impurities of the kind bismuth, arsenic, antimony and tin, by flame-smelting the material with an oxygen-containing gas. The oxygen potential and temperature are adapted during the flame-smelting process so that the product formed thereby comprises substantially a lead-sulphide melt substantially free of volatile, sulphidic and metallic impurities of the said kind. The lead-sulphide melt is brought into contact with an oxidic lead material substantially free of impurities of the aforementioned kind, while oxidizing the sulphide-sulphur content of the material and forming a melt substantially free of sulphur. Lead is recovered from the melt by separation, optionally after subjecting the melt or a part thereof to a reducing process.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.