CURSINO, G. G. S.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2648373646842937; CURSINO, Gustavo Gomes Sampaio.
Résumé:
Most part of lead consumed in the world nowadays is for the manufacturing of
batteries or acid-lead accumulators used for different purposes. When the shelf life of those
batteries expires, they must be discarded in recovery or recycling units. There is no
substitute for lead being used in acid-lead batteries that could be interesting from the
economic perspective. Today, 50% of the 5.5 million tons of metal yearly produced in the
world is estimated to result from secondary production, i.e., they derive from the recycling
process itself. (CEMPRE)
Usually, solid carbon (petroleum coke) is used in the recycling process as a
carbothermal redactor. Carbon serves to reduce lead in the form of sulphate arid oxide into
metalic lead.
Soon, ideas emerged as to the feasibility to partially substitute coke (a petroleum
byproduct) for coal fines, a co-product from the boilers at Alumar refinery, which is a
member of the aluminum consortium in the state of Maranhao, one of the largest aluminum
(Smelting) and alumina (Refinery) production complexes in the world.
Laboratory tests were conducted aiming at determining the best blend ratio and the
best results were 75% petroleum coke x 25% coal fines.
