Lead smelting and refining process

Lead is manufactured over several steps: The starting material, primary lead (lead-containing ores) or secondary lead (recycled, lead-containing waste, in particular spent batteries) is first prepared by roasting and/or physical processes. Subsequently, the starting materials are reduced in a melting furnace and freed from accompanying substances, whereby different melting processes are used depending on the starting material. The melted material is further freed from contamination in a refining process and poured into moulds, it is then available as raw lead for further processing.

Rotary drum furnace Shaft furnace Direct reduction TBRC/Kaldo process Chamber furnaces Lead refining Casting Scrap Lead concentrate Holding furnace Refining kettle Chamber furnace