Lead from Glass

Hi If a glass sample has 60% lead content Is it possible to extract the lead from glass. And if so how :) regards AndrewK

Reply to
AndrewK
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Why would you "want" to extract the lead? To what purpose?

I don't know of any non-destructive way. I suppose if you put the lead-bearing glass into a crucible and melted it in a furnace at 2000F, you could maybe burn off the lead (or most of it), but again, why?

Reply to
Moonraker

I guess the recycling plants that take care of TV-tubed do that

-lauri

Reply to
Lauri Levanto

Do you want to end up with metallic lead? If so you need to reduce the lead oxide in the glass, which you can do with another metal, like molybdenum or even iron, or use carbon.

In a graphite crucible it would probably work fine. In melting tanks using metal electrodes, like Mo or Pt, lead metal accumulates around the electrodes and eventually can break out of the bottom. To avoid this they use tin oxide electrodes.

Reply to
Terry Harper

Ok Thanks all.

I have access to 950kg per day of powerderd glass waste which has 60% lead content.

It's all going to land fill. if the lead can be extracted economically its a win win all round.

The process sounds expensive.

Do you have any more details or do you know where such equipment can be found.

regards Andrew

Terry Harper wrote:

Reply to
AndrewK

I think your missing the boat, why not just sell it for what it is, Lead Crystal Cullet/powder. glassblowers could remelt and re-create with it as it is. the lead that would be removed would be worth maybe $.70 per kilo, and cullet sells for .80- 1.00 per kilo? and no processing. that would be recycling wisely..

Reply to
Javahut

950 KG? This is enough powder/scrap/cullet to make almost 1400 sq. ft of 1/8" thick glass. (950 x2.2lb/kg=2090lbs. 2090 lbs/1.5lbs/sq ft=1393 sq ft.) Even plain old float has a wholesale price of about $1.00/ft. That is about $1,500.00 value per day of glass getting tossed, (less manufacturing costs of firing the cullet and making the sheets)

In the US, the EPA regulates any stained glass studio who produces more than 200 lbs of lead waste a year. If my math is correct, you are talking about 1250 lbs of lead per day going to a landfill? ( 950x 2.2x .60=1254) I find that hard to believe, just based on what it costs to dispose of toxic wastes and the environmental regulations.

Why would the original mfg of the glass not want the scrap back to add to the furnace for another batch?

Reply to
Moonraker

Reply to
Kalera

Have you tried sci.chem?

Reply to
Allan Adler

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