Search

Traditionally, lead is produced from galena through desulphurisation (PbS to PbO) and deoxidation (PbO to Pb) in furnaces at high temperatures. However, this process requires high energy consumption. Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are electrolytes in laboratory studies during metal electrodeposition. To electrochemically extract Pb from PbO at room temperature, a new electrolyte, urea−1-ethyl-3- methylimidazolium fluoride (urea−[EMIM]F), was synthesised to dissolve PbO. Afterwards, the electrochemical behaviour of Pb in this electrolyte was studied. The density, viscosity and conductivity of this electrolyte were investigated before electro-extraction. The electrochemical behaviour of Pb in the urea−[EMIM]F system was recorded via cyclic voltammograms, chronoamperometry and potentiostatic electrolysis. The results illustrate that Pb can be electrochemically extracted from PbO in this system at room temperature and that Pb reduction involves a quasi-reversible process and follows a one-step and two-electron transfer process. The reduction of Pb proceeds with a three-dimensional (3D) progressive model. With an increase in temperature, the onset potentials for Pb reduction shift anodically. The diffusion coefficient of Pb(II) is determined to be 6.88×10−10 cm2/s at 353 K. Additionally, spherical Pb particles are obtained after electrodeposition in the urea−[EMIM]F system via potentiostatic electrolysis., Traditionally, lead is produced from galena through desulphurisation (PbS to PbO) and deoxidation (PbO to Pb) in furnaces at high temperatures. However, this process requires high energy consumption. Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are electrolytes in laboratory studies during metal electrodeposition. To electrochemically extract Pb from PbO at room temperature, a new electrolyte, urea−1-ethyl-3- methylimidazolium fluoride (urea−[EMIM]F), was synthesised to dissolve PbO. Afterwards, the electrochemical behaviour of Pb in this electrolyte was studied. The density, viscosity and conductivity of this electrolyte were investigated before electro-extraction. The electrochemical behaviour of Pb in the urea−[EMIM]F system was recorded via cyclic voltammograms, chronoamperometry and potentiostatic electrolysis. The results illustrate that Pb can be electrochemically extracted from PbO in this system at room temperature and that Pb reduction involves a quasi-reversible process and follows a one-step and two-electron transfer process. The reduction of Pb proceeds with a three-dimensional (3D) progressive model. With an increase in temperature, the onset potentials for Pb reduction shift anodically. The diffusion coefficient of Pb(II) is determined to be 6.88×10−10 cm2/s at 353 K. Additionally, spherical Pb particles are obtained after electrodeposition in the urea−[EMIM]F system via potentiostatic electrolysis.