Electrorefining of lead from scrap lead acid battery

Lead acid battery finds application system and the disposal of its scraps is one of the environmental problems all over the world. Pyrometallurgical operation currently employed generates emission of oxides of sulphur and. particulate lead causing atmospheric pollution. Electrolytic route is investigated as an alternative to recover lead. The route comprises breaking the scrap batteries and separating the portions of metallic lead and lead compounds. The metallic portion is cast into anodes and electrorefined in lead fluoborate medium. The purity of final cathode is analysed by mass spectrometry. Addition of levelling agent and grain refiner in proper proportion avoids dendritic growth. Over potential measurement is found to be useful in monitoring the concentration of additive in the electrolyte during electrorefining of lead.