Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Jeff B
Lv 6
Jeff B asked in Science & MathematicsChemistry · 9 years ago

how to extract lead from leaded glass CRT tubes...?

I've been reading for a while trying to find a safe way to extract and refine lead from CRT sources, for use in batteries. It is apparently not readily available knowledge.

I've read that it will leach into wine... is that because of acidity? Would vinegar also leach it out?

And if I were to use a liquid to pull it from the glass, how would I refine the lead from the liquid? Boil it?

Is there a safe temperature I can melt the glass to that will make it possible for the molten lead and molten glass to separate through centrifugal or vibrational force?

Can I heat the wine out to leave behind pure lead without vaporizing lead and causing health risks?

I really need to learn more about this potential because I have plenty of CRTs and could easily get more, and I would really like to build custom batteries for use in home energy management.

Any knowledge you could share, or direction to good sources for this information would be greatly appreciated and also, would come up on search results if someone else ever tried to find this answer like I did. You would be doing a great service.

3 Answers

Relevance
  • 9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    The lead will be present in the glass as a salt. You need to use a reagent that will dissolve lead salts but leave the glass behind.

    I'd try aqua regia (3 parts conc HCl, 1 part conc HNO3). Grind the glass into powder (or the smallest pieces you can) to quicken the reaction time.

    The acid solution should contain lead. Neutralise it, and add sulphuric acid to precipitate the lead as the sulphate.

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Trying looking at nulife glass furnace. The technology has been developed and is being used commercially.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Waiting on more opinions before I share my view

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.