During the production of lead (includes secondary lead), zinc, and copper, a large amount of lead contained heavy metal waste is generated. If they are not effectively recycled and safely disposed, it will not only result in resource wastage but also lead to significant environmental risks. In many countries, the comprehensive recycling of lead-contained waste faces issues such as low recycling rates, high operation costs, and secondary pollution.

To address the challenges of industrial competition and increasing regulatory pressure, various smelting processes have been explored to enhance recovery rates and minimize environmental impact. For instance, the OSBF process has been proven effective for smelters, improving efficiency while reducing emissions.

With the anticipated shortage of ULABs (Used Lead-Acid Batteries) and the rising value of recovered metals, improving production efficiency and total value of final products has become a priority, especially in China. Stricter environmental regulations require smelters to adopt advanced technologies capable of treating a variety of lead-containing materials simultaneously, reduce hazardous waste discharge, and implement safer disposal methods.

By analyzing and comparing secondary lead smelting process globally—focusing on energy consumption, process efficiency, and environmental compliance — economical and effective, low carbon and environmental friendly solutions can be developed to help smelters that have different production capacity and raw material composition. However, the feasibility of such investments depends on regional regulatory frameworks and the specific conditions of secondary lead markets, necessitating further assessment.