New Lead Smelting Methods.

During the last two decades, attempts have been intensified all over the world to develop new methods for more economical and environment conserving lead extraction. Some of these smelting plant methods are still under development (e. g. QSL and MINEMET), others are just to be realized in the first large scale plants (KIVCET process) or have already proven useful during the first years of operation (TBRC). A comparison of some new lead smelting processes shows their technological and economical characteristics. Environmental requirements for those smelter models are taken into consideration concerning process control, selection of plant, and layout.