Selective Antimony Arsenic Removal Agent for Lead Refining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for refining secondary crude lead, such as oxidation and alkaline refinement, result in the simultaneous removal of valuable tin along with antimony and arsenic, leading to a massive waste of tin resources and increased production costs due to the similar chemical properties of these metals.
Innovation Solution
A selective antimony and arsenic removal and tin retaining agent composed of 10-30 wt % aluminum, 65-85 wt % calcium, and 1-2 wt % lead powder, which is mixed and added to molten lead to form antimonide and arsenide compounds that float and separate from the lead, allowing for the reduction of antimony and arsenic content to 0.0005% or less while retaining tin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If oxidation refinement or alkaline refinement is used to remove impurities, then antimony and arsenic are removed effectively, but valuable tin is also oxidized and lost in the refining slag
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the refining system by introducing a specific alloying element composition (containing aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and boron) that alters the oxidation behavior. This composition modification enables selective oxidation of antimony and arsenic while protecting tin through controlled chemical reactions that form protective intermediates or change the oxidation potential of the system
Solution Approach 2:
The refining agent acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the oxidizing atmosphere and the metal components. The aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and boron elements in the agent react preferentially with oxygen and impurities, creating a protective chemical environment that prevents tin oxidation while facilitating antimony and arsenic removal through intermediate reaction products
2Reliability
If traditional refinement methods are used, then impurities are removed, but production costs increase due to tin waste
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables selective discarding of only the harmful impurities (antimony and arsenic) while recovering and retaining the valuable tin component. The refined lead with preserved tin content has higher economic value, directly reducing production costs by eliminating the need to replace lost tin in subsequent alloying processes
Solution Approach 2:
By modifying the chemical composition parameters of the refining system through the introduction of the specific agent composition, the process achieves better selectivity and efficiency. This parameter change reduces material waste and improves the economic efficiency of the refinement operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The agent effectively reduces antimony and arsenic content to below national standards with high removal rates, retains valuable tin, reduces production costs, and minimizes slagging and environmental impact, achieving efficient and selective impurity removal.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the antimony and arsenic removal and tin retaining agent to melt into the molten lead to combine with the antimony and arsenic to form an antimonide
Implementation Method 2
the antimony and arsenic removal and tin retaining agent is added at a speed which should not affect normal existence of the vortex, allowing the antimony and arsenic removal and tin retaining agent to melt into the molten lead to combine with the antimony and arsenic to form an antimonide, which floats on a surface of the molten lead
Data Source
AI summary
An agent for selective antimony and arsenic removal and tin retaining includes 10-30 wt % of aluminum, 65-85 wt % of calcium, 1-10 wt % of coke powder, and 1-5 wt % of lead powder. According to the content of antimony in lead, the antimony and arsenic removal and tin retaining agent is added to a molten lead which is at a temperature of about 550-650° C. at a certain proportion so as to carry out an antimony and arsenic removal reaction; after the reaction is completed, cooling is carried out, and antimony and arsenic scum is fished out to obtain a molten lead with antimony and arsenic removed; the content of antimony and arsenic is reduced to 0.0005 wt % or less, and the content of tin is substantially unchanged. The production costs for lead alloy preparation are reduced, and no smoke and odor appear in an antimony and arsenic removal reaction process.