Refractory Solutions by Laboratory Tests
and Fieldworks for Lead Recycling
Applications
K. Reinharter, D. Gregurek, A. Spanring and Camille Fleuriault
Abstract The most common route for secondary lead recycling from battery scrap
in the USA is the reverberatory smelting furnace. Detailed knowledge of operating
conditions is important for selecting and developing the most suitable refractory
materials for such a process route as they influence the refractory performance. This
paper describes detailed mineralogical investigations on selected slag samples from
a secondary lead smelter followed by laboratory test work (corrosion test with an
induction furnace and a crucible test) with magnesia-chromite bricks. Based on the
results of those tests, refractory bricks with the highest corrosion resistance were
selected for use in field trials. Investigations of post-mortem samples are carried out
to understand the operational practice-orientated wear mechanism. This work was
done to increase the refractory application knowledge of the lead smelting industry
as well as providing customized refractory solution to RHI Magnesita’s customers.
Keywords Reverberatory furnace · Laboratory tests · Post-mortem study
Introduction
Lead production is divided into primary production where the raw materials are predominantly derived from sulfidic lead concentrates and secondary materials mainly
originating from the recycling of spent lead acid batteries [1]. Recycling of spent
lead acid batteries plays a very important role within the nonferrous metals industry.
The secondary lead production process is quite straightforward, and with the
present technology, it is possible to recycle without any loss of quality. The pyrometallurgical route is the most common, and the processing can be classified in oneK. Reinharter (B) · D. Gregurek
RHI Magnesita AG; TC Leoben, Magnesitstrasse 2, 8700 Leoben, Austria
e-mail: katja.reinharter@rhimagnesita.com
A. Spanring
RHI Magnesita, Kranichberggasse 6, 1120 Vienna, Austria
C. Fleuriault
Gopher Resource, Yankee Doodle Road 685, Eagan, MN 55121, USA
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
A. Siegmund et al. (eds.), PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium
on Lead and Zinc Processing, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_48
557
and Fieldworks for Lead Recycling
Applications
K. Reinharter, D. Gregurek, A. Spanring and Camille Fleuriault
Abstract The most common route for secondary lead recycling from battery scrap
in the USA is the reverberatory smelting furnace. Detailed knowledge of operating
conditions is important for selecting and developing the most suitable refractory
materials for such a process route as they influence the refractory performance. This
paper describes detailed mineralogical investigations on selected slag samples from
a secondary lead smelter followed by laboratory test work (corrosion test with an
induction furnace and a crucible test) with magnesia-chromite bricks. Based on the
results of those tests, refractory bricks with the highest corrosion resistance were
selected for use in field trials. Investigations of post-mortem samples are carried out
to understand the operational practice-orientated wear mechanism. This work was
done to increase the refractory application knowledge of the lead smelting industry
as well as providing customized refractory solution to RHI Magnesita’s customers.
Keywords Reverberatory furnace · Laboratory tests · Post-mortem study
Introduction
Lead production is divided into primary production where the raw materials are predominantly derived from sulfidic lead concentrates and secondary materials mainly
originating from the recycling of spent lead acid batteries [1]. Recycling of spent
lead acid batteries plays a very important role within the nonferrous metals industry.
The secondary lead production process is quite straightforward, and with the
present technology, it is possible to recycle without any loss of quality. The pyrometallurgical route is the most common, and the processing can be classified in oneK. Reinharter (B) · D. Gregurek
RHI Magnesita AG; TC Leoben, Magnesitstrasse 2, 8700 Leoben, Austria
e-mail: katja.reinharter@rhimagnesita.com
A. Spanring
RHI Magnesita, Kranichberggasse 6, 1120 Vienna, Austria
C. Fleuriault
Gopher Resource, Yankee Doodle Road 685, Eagan, MN 55121, USA
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
A. Siegmund et al. (eds.), PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium
on Lead and Zinc Processing, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_48
557