The FAST Pb Process and Its Impact on Secondary …
589
The FAST electrowinning system is fully automated and requires a very limited
labor. The process is also enclosed providing a much better workplace environment
than the traditional foundry.
The process configuration for the “future” new and modern battery recycling plant
is shown in the block diagram in Fig. 4.
Economics
The new configuration of a recycling plant based on the FAST Pb Process is more
capital intensive than the conventional lead smelter equipped with desulphurization,
rotary furnaces, and refinery kettles. The electrowinning cells themselves are not
disproportionately expensive but the processes for the lead compounds leaching, the
solution filtration, and purification units each require additional equipment.
However, the operational cost of the FAST Pb Process appears to be much better
than conventional smelting and refinery, even when considering only the direct costs.
Depending mainly upon the cost of the electric energy, the direct cost ranges between
240 and 280 Euro/ton of refined lead. The major cost savings are the labor and the
logistics due to the continuous operation of the FAST versus the batch operations of
conventional smelting.
While the direct cost for the operation of the health and environmental protection
units has been included in the above specific cost, the fixed cost for the management
of the lead fume bag houses and for the human health protection in the plant is
incomparably lower for the FAST Pb Process than the cost for the conventional
smelters.
Lastly, the image and respective community acceptance management are a cost
for any smelter. Cleaner lead production through electrowinning is expected to be a
welcome improvement by the neighbourhood as well as local and federal regulating
agencies.
Conclusion
Even though lead is always considered a “dead man walking”, its importance in
the energy storage market is vital and it is not likely to lose standing in the future.
Of course, the image and public opinion of lead impose the need for research into
safer and more environmentally friendly production methods. Electrochemistry can
provide a big hand in changing this opinion.
Engitec started to study lead electrochemical recovery decades ago and has investigated many different options to treat both primary and secondary lead sources. The
FAST Pb Process for secondary sources is a unique and challenging electrochemical
process. Extensive laboratory, pilot, and demo plant development operations have
589
The FAST electrowinning system is fully automated and requires a very limited
labor. The process is also enclosed providing a much better workplace environment
than the traditional foundry.
The process configuration for the “future” new and modern battery recycling plant
is shown in the block diagram in Fig. 4.
Economics
The new configuration of a recycling plant based on the FAST Pb Process is more
capital intensive than the conventional lead smelter equipped with desulphurization,
rotary furnaces, and refinery kettles. The electrowinning cells themselves are not
disproportionately expensive but the processes for the lead compounds leaching, the
solution filtration, and purification units each require additional equipment.
However, the operational cost of the FAST Pb Process appears to be much better
than conventional smelting and refinery, even when considering only the direct costs.
Depending mainly upon the cost of the electric energy, the direct cost ranges between
240 and 280 Euro/ton of refined lead. The major cost savings are the labor and the
logistics due to the continuous operation of the FAST versus the batch operations of
conventional smelting.
While the direct cost for the operation of the health and environmental protection
units has been included in the above specific cost, the fixed cost for the management
of the lead fume bag houses and for the human health protection in the plant is
incomparably lower for the FAST Pb Process than the cost for the conventional
smelters.
Lastly, the image and respective community acceptance management are a cost
for any smelter. Cleaner lead production through electrowinning is expected to be a
welcome improvement by the neighbourhood as well as local and federal regulating
agencies.
Conclusion
Even though lead is always considered a “dead man walking”, its importance in
the energy storage market is vital and it is not likely to lose standing in the future.
Of course, the image and public opinion of lead impose the need for research into
safer and more environmentally friendly production methods. Electrochemistry can
provide a big hand in changing this opinion.
Engitec started to study lead electrochemical recovery decades ago and has investigated many different options to treat both primary and secondary lead sources. The
FAST Pb Process for secondary sources is a unique and challenging electrochemical
process. Extensive laboratory, pilot, and demo plant development operations have