Content
The Lead (Pb) is a soft, ductile and malleable metal of the periodic table present in nature.
Where is it obtained from?
Much of this metal is extracted from underground mines. However, this is not in its elemental state, so there are more than 60 metals that may contain lead, but there are only three metals that are used to extract lead: galena, cerussite and anglesite. Finally, it is important to mention that the main use of lead is the manufacture of rechargeable cells or batteries.
The mineral from which lead is most extracted is galena, where it is found as lead sulfide. Thus, this mineral contains 85% lead and the rest is sulfur. There are deposits of galena in Germany, Mexico, the United States, Spain and Australia.
Furnaces are used to extract lead from galena where the ore is calcined and the oxide is reduced until the sulfide part of the lead is converted into lead oxide and sulfate.
If lead is subjected to a furnace by calcination in this process, several contaminants are released: bismuth, arsenic, cadmium, copper, silver, gold and zinc. After obtaining a molten mass in a furnace that receives the name of reverberatory furnace with air, sulfur and steam, these manage to oxidize the metals with the exception of gold, silver and bismuth. The rest of the pollutants that float as waste are removed from the process.
Further:
- Where is the oil extracted from?
- Where is aluminum obtained from?
- Where is iron extracted from?
- Where is copper extracted from?
- Where is the gold obtained from?
Lead refining
Pine, lime, xanthate and alum oil are generally used. Limestone or iron ores are used in the baking process. This improves the baking process.
Recycling
However, not all lead comes from mining. Only 50% of the obtaining of lead is derived from there; the other 50% comes from the recycling of automobile accumulators (batteries).
