Mastodawn

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/17/5882 Recovery of Pure Lead-Tin Alloy from Recycling Spent Lead-Acid Batteries. This paper aims to present an innovative method for the fire refining of lead, which enables the retention of tin contained in lead from recycled lead-acid batteries. The proposed method uses aluminium scrap to remove impurities from the lead, virtually leaving all of the tin in it. #recycling #batteries #science #sustainability #battery #lead #recyclingLead #CircularEconomy

Recovery of Pure Lead-Tin Alloy from Recycling Spent Lead-Acid Batteries

Spent lead–acid batteries have become the primary raw material for global lead production. In the current lead refining process, the tin oxidizes to slag, making its recovery problematic and expensive. This paper aims to present an innovative method for the fire refining of lead, which enables the retention of tin contained in lead from recycled lead–acid batteries. The proposed method uses aluminium scrap to remove impurities from the lead, virtually leaving all of the tin in it. The results of the conducted experiments indicate the high efficiency of the proposed method, which obtained a pure Pb-Sn alloy. This alloy is an ideal base material for the production of battery grids. This research was carried out on an industrial scale, which confirms the possibility of facile implementation of the method in almost every lead–acid battery recycling plant in the world.

MDPI

Daniel Dec 1

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11837-024-06892-w Refining of Secondary Pb with Retention of Sn Using Al and Ca Additions. Lead grid from spent lead-acid batteries contains significant amounts of tin and antimony. This paper presents an innovative method of pyro-refining lead using metallic aluminum and calcium to purify the lead from contaminants while retaining a higher amount of tin than in the traditional process. #recycling #batteries #science #sustainability #battery #lead #recyclingLead #CircularEconomy

Refining of Secondary Pb with Retention of Sn Using Al and Ca Additions - JOM

Lead grid from spent lead-acid batteries contains significant amounts of tin and antimony. In classical pyro-refining processes of lead, tin oxidizes and is transferred to dross, making its recovery problematic and expensive. This paper presents an innovative method of pyro-refining lead using metallic aluminum and calcium to purify the lead from contaminants while retaining a higher amount of tin than in the traditional process. The changes in the chemical composition of an impure lead alloy containing tin, under the influence of refining by adding Al and/or Ca, are discussed based on laboratory-scale studies. Microanalysis of the metallic dross formed during the process was conducted. Analyses of the metallic dross microstructures showed that lead impurities, such as Sb, As, Cu, Se, and Te, tend to accumulate in areas containing Al or Ca. The amount and form of dross produced in industrial practice indicate that its removal would be challenging. Therefore, in the second part of the study, the metallic dross was subjected to a reduction process, and the resulting products were analyzed for their chemical and phase composition. The analyses indicate that the degree of impurities return to the lead during reduction varied significantly depending on the method used.

SpringerLink

Daniel Dec 1

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11661-025-07813-5 Analysis of the Lead Refining Method Using Aluminum. The purpose of this study was to investigate the processes occurring during the refining of lead with aluminum, by analyzing and studying ternary Pb-(M)-Al systems, where M is one of the following metals: Sb, As, Se, Cu or Ni, which are the main contaminants of secondary lead from recycling waste lead-acid batteries. #recycling #batteries #science #sustainability #battery #lead #recyclingLead #CircularEconomy

Analysis of the Lead Refining Method Using Aluminum - Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A

The purpose of this study was to investigate the processes occurring during the refining of lead with aluminum, by analyzing and studying ternary Pb-(M)-Al systems, where M is one of the following metals: Sb, As, Se, Cu or Ni, which are the main contaminants of secondary lead from recycling waste lead-acid batteries. The Pb-Sb-Ca system, crucial for removing antimony while retaining tin, was also analyzed. The research included analysis of 2- and 3-component phase systems simulated, process kinetics under laboratory conditions for pure ternary systems, and chemical and phase composition analysis. Phase analysis showed the presence of permanent aluminum compounds such as AlSb, AlAs, Al2Se3, Al3Ni and phases with copper in the dross. In addition to the direct association of aluminum with a given contaminant, aluminum oxides such as Al0.5Sb0.5O2 and AlAsO4 as well as calcium oxide with antimony Ca4Sb2O7 were also found in the dross. On the basis of the tests carried out, 680 °C was considered the optimal temperature for starting the refining process, with the amount of aluminum that was approx. The research provides new scientific data toward more efficient secondary lead refining technologies relevant to recycling waste lead-acid batteries and producing lead-tin alloys for the battery industry. Graphical Abstract

SpringerLink

DoomsdaysCW Nov 18

#RecyclingLead for U.S. Car Batteries Is #Poisoning People

By Peter S. Goodman, Will Fitzgibbon and Samuel Granados Visuals by Finbarr O’Reilly and Carmen Abd Ali
Nov. 18, 2025

Excerpt: "The #AutoIndustry touts #BatteryRecycling as an environmental success story. Lead from old batteries, when recycled cleanly and safely, can be melted down and reused again and again with minimal pollution.

"But companies have rejected proposals to use only lead that is certified as safely produced. Automakers have excluded lead from their #environmental policies.
Battery makers rely on the assurances of trading companies that lead is recycled cleanly. These intermediaries rely on perfunctory audits that make recommendations, not demands.

"The industry, in effect, built a global supply system in which everyone involved can say someone else is responsible for oversight.

"#Nigeria, the economic engine of West Africa, is among the fastest-growing sources of recycled lead for American companies."

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/HqR18

#SEZ #EPZ #EconomicSacrificeZones #Pollution #EnvironmentalDamage #Greenwashing #EnvironmentalRacism #Africa #Nigeria #LeadPoisoning #Ford #Toyota #GM #PeopleAndPlanetOverProfit

The Auto Industry’s Lead Recycling Program is Poisoning People

We documented the toxic fallout of a green technology.

The New York Times