Pure Lead Research Articles

Ultrasonic-Assisted Synthesis of Lead Citrate as Precursor for Preparation of Lead Oxide from Lead Sulfate

ABSTRACT In this study, an efficient method of lead recovery from lead sulfate in spent lead-acid batteries assisted by ultrasonic is developed using the citric acid–sodium citrate solution. Ultrasonic-assisted technology is employed to enhance the kinetics of lead sulfate leaching. Initially, the predominance area of the lead citrate complexes was analyzed. The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ultrasonic-assisted technology on the kinetic behavior of lead sulfate within the citric acid–sodium citrate solution, thereby unveiling the differences between ultrasonic-assisted leaching and the non-ultrasonic-assisted leaching. Kinetic study indicated that the employment of ultrasonic-assisted technology could effectively reduce the apparent activation energy during the desulfurization process, decreasing the energy initially required from 43.27 kJ/mol to 35.15 kJ/mol. Furthermore, the ultrasonic-assisted leaching led to successful preparation of lead citrate precursor, characterized by a smaller particle size and larger specific surface area. Systematic investigations were performed on the thermal decomposition process of these precursors and the effects of calcination temperature and holding time on the properties of calcination products. It was revealed that pure porous lead oxide powder with a purity of 99.9% could be produced successfully under the conditions of calcination temperature at 350°C and holding time of 1 h. The research provides an innovative process for the efficient recovery of lead from spent lead acid batteries.

On the size- and shape-dependence of integral and partial molar Gibbs energies, entropies, enthalpies and inner energies of solid and liquid nano-particles

In this paper the size- and shape dependences of 8 different integral and partial molar thermodynamic quantities are derived for solid and liquid nano-phases, starting from the fundamental equation of Gibbs: i) The integral molar Gibbs energies of nano-phases and the partial molar Gibbs energies of components in those nano-phases, ii) The integral molar enthalpies of nano-phases and the partial molar enthalpies of components in those nano-phases, iii) The integral molar entropies of nano-phases and the partial molar entropies of components in those nano-phases, and iv). The integral molar inner energies of nano-phases and the partial molar inner energies of components in those nano-phases. All these 8 functions are found proportional to the specific surface area of the phase, defined as the ratio of its surface area to its volume. The equations for specific surface areas of phases of different shapes are different, but all of them are inversely proportional to the characteristic size of the phase, such as the diameter of a nano-sphere, the side-length of a nano-cube or the thickness of a thin film. Therefore, the deviations of all properties discussed here from their macroscopic values are inversely proportional to their characteristic sizes. The 8 equations derived in this paper follow strict derivations from the fundamental equation of Gibbs. Only the temperature dependent surface energy of solids and surface tension of liquids will be considered as model equations to simplify the final resulting equations. The theoretical equations are validated for the molar Gibbs energy against the experimental values of liquidus temperatures of pure lead. The theoretical equations for the molar enthalpy are validated i). Against the experimental values of dissolution enthalpy differences between nano- and macro cobalt particles in the same liquid alloy and ii). Against the size dependent melting enthalpy of nano-indium particles. In this way, also the theoretical equations for the molar entropy and molar inner energy are validated as they are closely related to the validated equations for the molar Gibbs energy and molar enthalpy.

Economics and finance of lead fast reactors: A systematic literature review

Generation IV (Gen-IV) nuclear reactor designs are receiving increasing attention because of their potential to achieve key goals in terms of sustainability, safety, reliability, and economics. One of the six technologies selected in the Gen-IV program is the lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR). This work focuses on LFRs, examining both pure lead and lead-bismuth eutectic designs. Through two systematic literature reviews, we consolidate the state-of-the-art in economics and finance for LFRs. The first review considers scientific literature and retrieves 12 articles. The second focuses instead on industrial literature, resulting in 12 additional documents. Economics literature is very scarce and sometimes of low quality. Economic estimations for the specific capital cost [$/kWe] and the cost of electricity [$/MWh] can vary by an order of magnitude (1500–25000 $/kWe and 30–350 $/MWh, respectively), while design organizations typically do not publicly share financial details. Finance literature is almost nonexistent. We report, in the final part of the work, notable knowledge gaps and further possible research areas.

Investigation of physical properties of pure and Ba-doped lead zirconate titanate, synthesized by Sol-gel combustion

Investigation of physical properties of pure and Ba-doped lead zirconate titanate, synthesized by Sol-gel combustion

ANISOTROPY OF ACOUSTO OPTICAL PROPERTIES IN PbMoO4 CRYSTALS WITH NEODYMIUM ADMIXTURE

The anisotropy of the efficiency of Bragg diffraction of light by longitudinal acoustic waves propagating along the [100] and [001] directions in pure and neodymium-doped lead molybdate crystals has been studied. The Nd impurity concentration was approximately 0.2 mol%. The Dixon method was used to determine the effective photoelasticity constants (peff) and the corresponding acousto-optical quality factors (M2) for various directions of polarization of incident light. The velocity of acoustic waves was determined by measurement the angle of Bragg diffraction on these waves. It is shown that in pure and doped lead molybdate crystals there is a dependence of the peff and M2on the direction of propagation of the acoustic wave and the polarization of the incident light.

Evaluation of the shielding effectiveness of a non-toxic, double-layered BaSO4/W composite against diagnostic X-rays

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shielding effectiveness of a non-toxic double layer of barium sulfate and tungsten with disclosed elemental compositions against diagnostic X-rays. Three variations of the radiation shielding material were created: one mainly composed of tungsten (mW), another mainly composed of barium sulfate (mBa), and a third composed of a blend of barium sulfate and tungsten (W/Ba). The following three types of 1.0 mm protective sheets were used to compare their shielding effectiveness: a double layer with mW upstream and mBa downstream (mW→mBa); a double layer with mBa upstream and mW downstream (mBa→mW); and W/Ba. Moreover, using experimental measurements and Monte Carlo calculations, the shielding effectiveness against 110 kVp X-rays of mBa→mW (0.495 g cm−2) was compared with the corresponding values for a commercially available lead-free protective apron (0.25 mmPb equivalent) and a 0.5 mm pure lead sheet (0.567 g cm−2). The measured and calculated shielding of a mBa→mW double layer was approximately 1% more effective than that of the reverse arrangement and of the mixture. The shielding effectiveness of mBa→mW was 93.66%, which compared with values of 87.22% for the commercially available lead-free apron and 93.86% for pure lead. In conclusion, the 1.0 mm non-toxic radiation shielding sheet having a double-layered structure with barium sulfate upstream and tungsten downstream was approximately 13% lighter than a 0.5 mm thick pure lead sheet but provided an equivalent shielding effectiveness against diagnostic X-rays.

СHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CHRISTIAN AND PAGAN METAL ANTIQUITIES FROM THE EXCAVATIONS AT MEDIEVAL NOVGOROD ON THE BASE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

The present paper focuses on the new results of elemental analysis of 94 metal objects attributed to the Christian and pagan artifacts. They have been found at the excavation of Medieval Novgorod and the Novgorod region. The analytical data obtained by EDXRF in the frame of interdisciplinary research project. It includes mostly pendant-crosses as well as the round pendants and mounts with Saints, fragments of the church polycandelons and the pagan pendant-amulets. Obtained results have been examined statistically. Tin-lead bronzes clearly dominate the selection. There are also mixed copper alloys (gunmetal) with tin, zinc, and lead and lead brass. The proportions of silver and pewter alloys as well as pure tin and lead are modest. Obtained data supplemented by further research on the base of Pb-isotope methods and ICP MS results and their geological interpretation will allow to trace the ore sources of the metal objects from Novgorod.

Synthesis of Pure and Bi‐Doped Lead Oxides via Microwave‐Assisted Solvothermal Methodology and their Electrochemical Characterization

AbstractIn this study, we have reported the synthesis of both pure and bismuth‐doped lead oxide nanoparticles using solvothermal method. The synthesized nanomaterials were analyzed to assess their structure, crystallinity, phase, maximum absorption and band gap. The electrical characteristics of the fabricated nanostructures were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electron impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The maximum specific capacitance and energy density, 349.96 F/g and 95.27 Wh/g respectively, were attained at a scan rate of 200 mV/s in pure lead oxide. The synthesized pure lead oxide has displayed remarkable cyclic stability, retaining approximately 83 % of its performance even after undergoing 2000 cycles. The addition of bismuth to the lead oxide appeared to inhibit the electrochemical properties of lead oxide due to bismuth ion adsorption. This effect is directly concerned with the amount of dopant which predicted the increase in bismuth contents potentially suppressed the performance of the lead oxide. Our study provides insights into the possible uses of lead oxides in energy storage and conversion devices by revealing a previously unexplored method for optimizing their electrochemical characteristics. The understanding of oxide‐based materials in materials science and electrochemistry is expected to advance with the use of this novel technology.

All-inorganic lead halide perovskites for photocatalysis: a review.

Nowadays, environmental pollution and the energy crisis are two significant concerns in the world, and photocatalysis is seen as a key solution to these issues. All-inorganic lead halide perovskites have been extensively utilized in photocatalysis and have become one of the most promising materials in recent years. The superior performance of all-inorganic lead halide perovskites distinguish them from other photocatalysts. Since pure lead halide perovskites typically have shortcomings, such as low stability, poor active sites, and ineffective carrier extraction, that restrict their use in photocatalytic reactions, it is crucial to enhance their photocatalytic activity and stability. Huge progress has been made to deal with these critical issues to enhance the effects of all-inorganic lead halide perovskites as efficient photocatalysts in a wide range of applications. In this manuscript, the synthesis methods of all-inorganic lead halide perovskites are discussed, and promising strategies are proposed for superior photocatalytic performance. Moreover, the research progress of photocatalysis applications are summarized; finally, the issues of all-inorganic lead halide perovskite photocatalytic materials at the current state and future research directions are also analyzed and discussed. We hope that this manuscript will provide novel insights to researchers to further promote the research on photocatalysis based on all-inorganic lead halide perovskites.

Destruction of Commercially Pure Lead in Process Creep in a Constant Magnetic Field

Destruction of Commercially Pure Lead in Process Creep in a Constant Magnetic Field

Synthesis and characterisation of lead-magnesium-boron nanocomposite for radiation shielding application.

There is a need for the replacement of toxic lead with nontoxic materials in radiation shielding applications. Instead of pure lead, lead mixed compounds/mixtures/alloys are considered to be less toxic and hence preferred for radiation shielding purposes. The compounds with magnesium are said to be having good magnetic and mechanical properties. Meanwhile, the boron element avoids secondary radiation and absorbs neutrons. The compound which is a mixture of lead, magnesium and boron is expected to be a good shielding material for radiation for X-rays/gamma rays. Hence in the present study, we have synthesised the lead-magnesium-boron (LMB) nanocomposites (NCs) using the green synthesis approach for the first time. LMB is synthesised by solution combustion method using Aloe vera as a reducing agent. The synthesised NCs are characterised using well-known characterisation techniques. Powder X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of multi-phase LMB NCs, and average crystal size is found to be 13-15nm. Surface morphology and chemical composition are affirmed by SEM and EDX. The optical energy gap is found to be 1.87eV. FTIR confirmed the functional groups. X-rays/gamma rays, neutrons and bremsstrahlung radiation shielding efficiency are measured by experimental and theoretical, compared with conventional shielding materials. LMB NCs have proved to be efficient. Hence, LMB NCs proved to be potential in X-rays/gamma rays, neutrons and bremsstrahlung radiation shielding.

Demonstration of an ultrasonic imaging system for molten lead

2D and 3D ultrasonic imaging has so far not been demonstrated in pure molten lead in the open literature. In this study the development of such an ultrasonic device for imaging is outlined and results from testing at 380 °C in lead are presented. The main difficulties were found to be achieving then maintaining suitable wetting while ensuring suitable durability of the device, both due to the harsh nature of molten lead and the elevated temperatures. The successful detection and imaging (2D and 3D), of differently shaped targets, where the features were above the size of the transmitted ultrasound beam was demonstrated.

Negative effect of bismuth in lead on liquid metal embrittlement of a ferritic steel

Liquid metal embrittlement (LME) of a Fe-10Cr-4Al ferritic steel was studied at 375 °C in liquid Pb-Bi alloys. Slow strain rate testing (SSRT) in low oxygen conditions was used to evaluate the ductility as a function of Bi concentration. It was found that susceptibility to LME increased strongly with the Bi concentration. The steel showed a reduction in its total strain to failure, which started at 3–5 wt.% Bi. The alloying elements (Fe, Cr, and Al) have a higher solubility in Bi than pure lead (Pb), so they are expected to dissolve more readily when Bi is added to the Pb. This is believed to be part of the explanation for the observed increase of LME. Lead with up to 3 wt.% Bi induced no LME in the studied corrosion resistance FeCrAl alloy.

Study of Alternative Radiation Material Shielding for Gamma Radiation using Monte Carlo Simulation

Lead as the most commonly used material for radiation shielding but possessing toxic properties. This research aims to identify alternative, lead-free, and non-toxic materials for gamma radiation shielding through Monte Carlo simulations. Bismuth Oxide (Bi2O3), Barium Oxide (BaO), Tungsten Trioxide (WO3), Tungsten Dioxide (WO2), and Molybdenum Trioxide (MoO3) were selected as potential substitutes for lead. Pure lead (Pb) and Lead Oxide (PbO) were used for comparison. The simulation were performed using Particle Heavy Ion Tracking System (PHITS) software, with a gamma energy of 662 keV. The result of the simulation shows that the linear attenuation coefficient values for Pb and PbO were 0.902 mm-1 and 0.74 mm-1, respectively. Meanwhile, the simulation results of those simulated materials that are closest to Pb and PbO are Bi2O3 and WO2 with an attenuation coefficient of 0.71 mm-1. This simulation shows that for non-lead materials, BiO2 and WO2 have potential as alternative of non-lead radiation shielding.

A multi-phase investigation to understand the function of lanthanum and neodymium in the zirconia ceramics' synthesis, structural, and gamma-ray protective ability

In the present work, the role of Neodymium (III) nitrate hexahydrate [Nd (NO3)2] and lanthanum nitrate hexahydrate [La (NO3)3·6H2O] on the structural and radiation shielding properties of zircon mineral was examined. Therefore, a new La/Nb-doped ZrO2 nanocomposite was fabricated. Various experimental techniques such as energy-dispersive X-ray, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction pattern were utilized to discover the structure and chemical composition, as well as the morphology of the fabricated La/Nb-doped ZrO2 nanocomposites. Additionally, for the estimation of the fabricated composites' γ-ray shielding properties, Monte Carlo simulation was employed. Among low and intermediate γ-photon energy, the study affirmed a good shielding characteristic for the fabricated composites, where the linear attenuation coefficient reduced from 245.64 to 0.21 cm−1 when the γ-photon energy was raised respectively from 0.022 to 2.506 MeV. Compared to pure lead, the fabricated composites showed good shielding properties, where the shielding capacity reached 30–50% of the pure lead element in the 0.244–2.506 MeV intermediate energy interval.

How efficient are metal-polymer and dual-metals-polymer non-lead radiation shields?

Lead shields are often used to attenuate ionising radiations. However, to make lighter, recyclable and more efficient shields compared to lead, combinations of new metallic compounds together with polymer, for example, flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been developed recently. In this study, the capabilities of non-lead radiation shields made of one or two metallic compounds and polymer were evaluated. Monte Carlo (MC)-based BEAMnrc code was used to build a functional model based on a Philips X-ray machine in the range of radiographic energies. The MC model was then verified by IPEM Report 78 as a standardised global reference. The MC model was then used to evaluate the efficiency of non-lead-based garments made of metallic compound and polymer (MCP) including BaSO4 -PVC, Bi2 O3 -PVC, Sn-PVC and W-PVC, as well as dual-metallic compounds and polymer (DMCP) including Bi2 O3 -BaSO4 -PVC, Bi2 O3 -Sn-PVC, W-Sn-PVC and W-BaSO4 -PVC. The absorbed doses were determined at the surface of a water phantom and compared directly with the doses obtained for 0.5 mm pure lead (Pb). Bi2 O3 -BaSO4 -PVC and W-BaSO4 -PVC were found to be efficient shields for most of the energies. In addition to the above radiation shields, Bi2 O3 -Sn-PVC was also found to be effective for the spectrum of 60 keV. Bi2 O3 -BaSO4 -PVC as a non-lead dual metals-PVC shield was shown to be more efficient than pure lead in diagnostic X-ray range. Combination of two metals-PVC, a low atomic number (Z) metal together with a high atomic number metal, and also single-metal-PVC shields were shown to be efficient enough to apply as radiation protection shields instead of lead-based garments.

Application of carbon fibers in thin-plate pure lead batteries

BackgroundThis research aimed to synthesize a Pb/CF cloth/Pb composite as a highly efficient lead-carbon electrode for lead-acid batteries (LAB). Degradation of lead–acid batteries (LAB) often results from intermittent renewable energy usage. The addition of carbon materials can help inhibit LAB degradation. Thin plates made of pure Pb exhibit a high hydrogen evolution overpotential and greater resistance to corrosion than Pb alloys in dilute H2SO4. Meanwhile, activated CF cloth is a monolithic, conductive, and hydrophilic material. However, carbon materials are chemically inert making the Pb/C interface with high resistance and tend to have a lower hydrogen evolution overpotential. MethodsFollowing chemical modification, activated CF cloth was used to fabricate LCF through hot pressing. The formation mechanism of LCF was then determined by analyzing the surface characteristics of the CF cloth after chemical modification. Significant findingsThe inner CFs in LCF were wetted by liquid Pb. The charge transfer resistivity (Rct) of LCF was 18.82 Ω, which is considerably lower than that of Pb (616.80 Ω). Both pure LCF and paste-type LCF AGM batteries exhibit notable charge acceptance during HRPSoC cycling. The remaining 1C capacity of paste-type LCF battery remains stable over 1000 cycles with high 1C rate charge and 3C rate discharge cycling.

Bronze alloying recipes at Anyang during the Shang Dynasty

We present a detailed analysis of the chemical alloying data (Cu, Sn, Pb) on the bronzes recovered from the Late Shang capital at Yinxu, revealing a complex pattern which varies by social status and object typology, and which also changes over time. The preference for higher tin in the bronze vessels and weapons for the elites during Yinxu Phase II gives way to a more binary pattern (with weapons being preferentially alloyed with lead) for the lower elites of phase II, which becomes prevalent in subsequent phases. These changes are interpreted in terms of different ‘alloying practices’, which attempts to reconstruct the way in which the alloys are created at the point of casting. The alloy type described here as A1/A2 (11–24% tin, 0 to 3–5% lead) seems most likely to have been created by mixing together three components, corresponding to mixing relatively pure copper, tin and lead. This contrasts with the suggestion in the Kaogong Ji, several hundred years later, that binary pre-prepared alloys were used. It is now important to determine when such a change might have occurred. The suggestion that alloy type B (low tin, variably high lead) could have been made by combining pure copper with a slightly impure lead (95%Pb/5%Sn) hints that such practices might have started during the Shang, but requires more work, especially on the intervening Western and Eastern Zhou periods.

Study of Microhardness and Plasticity Parameter of Lead in External Magnetic Fields with Induction up to 0.5 T

Microhardness tests of samples of technically pure lead are carried out without and with exposure to external magnetic fields with inductions of 0.3 T, 0.4 T, and 0.5 T. The dependences of the C2-grade lead surface microhardnesses on the exposure times in a magnetic field are obtained, thus reflecting the influence of the magnetic field on the plastic characteristics of lead. The exposure time at which the maximum effect on microhardness occurs is revealed. Additional microhardness tests are carried out for cases with magnetic fields with inductions of up to 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 T and exposure times of 0.25, 0.5, and 1 hour. Following the obtained microhardness data, the plasticity parameters of lead samples in their initial state and after exposure are calculated. The dependences of the plasticity parameters on the exposure times are shown. The behavior of the plasticity parameter of lead samples during their exposure to external magnetic field with induction up to 0.5 T is revealed. The percent changes in the values of microhardness depending on the magnetic field induction are shown.

Study on the Volatilization Condensation Law of Pure Metallic Zinc and Lead During Vacuum Distillation

Study on the Volatilization Condensation Law of Pure Metallic Zinc and Lead During Vacuum Distillation