Lead Electrorefining Process from Exhausted Lead Acid Batteries by Using Acidic and Alkaline Electrolytes

Abstract The recycling of lead acid batteries (LABs) comprises relevant concerns on the suitable methodologies to recover lead. In this investigation, two electrorefining processes, by using acidic and alkaline electrolytes, have been compared determine most significant results both methodologies. Acidic electrolytes used 200 g/L HBF 4 , 1.2 H 3 PO 10 BO 100 PbO, while ones employed 120 NaOH, 75 50–92 glycerol, 2 gelatin. All solutions were studied varying temperature current density (CD) remarkable changes efficiency (CE), cell voltage (CV), specific energy consumption (SEC), deposit quality. highlighted that electrolyte containing dextrin it is possible obtain a compact even high CDs. solution without addition allows good quality deposits working at 40 °C A/m CD. After testing behavior different observe highest glycerol concentration obtain, for intermediate valued CD, CE higher than 97% with SEC about 0.37 kWh/kg. By comparing evident one reach productivity lower SEC. selected conditions, appear pure compact. Graphical