What other metals can be recovered from the lead produced in a zinc-lead blast furnace?

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In a zinc-lead blast furnace, the molten lead produced in the furnace hearth serves as a collector for several valuable metals present in the charge. The primary metals recovered from this lead bullion include:1

  • Silver: This is a key precious metal recovered from the lead bullion. During the refining process, zinc is added to the molten lead to form compounds with silver (and gold), which are then skimmed off and processed for recovery.123
  • Copper: Copper is present in the lead bullion and is recovered during the initial stages of lead refining. Because the solubility of copper in lead is very low at temperatures just above the melting point of lead, it segregates and forms a dross on the surface of the bath, which is then skimmed off.14
  • Gold: Similar to silver, gold is more soluble in zinc than in lead and is recovered during the desilvering process.23

Additionally, the refining of lead bullion involves the removal and potential recovery of other impurities such as antimony, arsenic, tin, and bismuth, which are separated through various pyrometallurgical or electrolytic techniques.23