Chemical–Electrochemical Process Concept for Lead Recovery from Waste Cathode Ray Tube Glass

• Main Authors: Árpád Imre-Lucaci, Melinda Fogarasi, Florica Imre-Lucaci, Szabolcs Fogarasi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Materials
• Subjects: cathode ray tube; lead recovery; lead leaching and electrodeposition; environmental assessment
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/6/1546

This paper presents a novel approach for the recovery of lead from waste cathode-ray tube (CRT) glass by applying a combined chemical-electrochemical process which allows the simultaneous recovery of Pb from waste CRT glass and electrochemical regeneration of the leaching agent. The optimal operating conditions were identified based on the influence of leaching agent concentration, recirculation flow rate and current density on the main technical performance indicators. The experimental results demonstrate that the process is the most efficient at 0.6 M acetic acid concentration, flow rate of 45 mL/min and current density of 4 mA/cm². The mass balance data corresponding to the recycling of 10 kg/h waste CRT glass in the identified optimal operating conditions was used for the environmental assessment of the process. The General Effect Indices (GEIs), obtained through the Biwer Heinzle method for the input and output streams of the process, indicate that the developed recovery process not only achieve a complete recovery of lead but it is eco-friendly as well.