Patent ID: 8133295
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for producing lead from a material containing lead sulphide comprising the steps of: a) feeding the material containing lead sulphide to a top entry submerged lance lead smelting furnace to produce lead bullion and a lead containing slag that contains lead silicate, wherein the material that is fed to the lead smelting furnace contains from 50 to 75% by weight Pb; b) removing the lead bullion from the lead smelting furnace; c) removing the lead containing slag from the lead smelting furnace, cooling the lead slag at a cooling rate of less than 50° C. per minute, and forming the lead containing slag into lumps by casting or by granulating followed by agglomeration or pelletizing, with the formed lumps having a size distribution suitable for use as feed material to a blast furnace, said lead containing slag having a lead oxide content in the range of 45-55 weight % of the total slag, a CaO/SiO d) feeding the lumps of lead containing slag to a blast furnace, the lead slag from the lead smelting furnace comprising the main part or all of the lead-containing feed material fed to the blast furnace, wherein the lead containing slag is converted into lead bullion and a discard slag.