With the acceleration of the global industrialization process, lead, as an important non-ferrous metal, has continued to grow in demand in the fields of battery manufacturing, radiation protection and alloy materials. However, the smelting process of lead ore has long faced the dual challenges of low energy efficiency and high environmental load. Among them, the rotary furnace smelting process, as one of the core technologies of traditional pyrometallurgy, has achieved efficient extraction of lead metal while also causing widespread controversy over energy consumption and environmental pollution. The energy efficiency and environmental impact of extracting lead from lead ore by rotary furnace are as follows:

1. Energy efficiency

Energy consumption: The extraction of lead by rotary furnace requires a lot of heat energy, usually from coal, natural gas or electricity, and has high energy consumption.

Thermal efficiency: Due to heat loss and heat carried away by exhaust gas, the thermal efficiency of rotary furnace is low, usually between 50% and 70%.

Optimization measures: Energy efficiency can be improved by recovering waste heat, improving furnace insulation, optimizing combustion process, etc.

2. Environmental impact

Waste gas emissions: Sulfur in lead ore generates sulfur dioxide at high temperature. If it is directly discharged without treatment, it will cause acid rain. In addition, the waste gas may also contain harmful substances such as lead vapor and dust.

Waste slag treatment: The waste slag produced during the smelting process contains heavy metals. If it is not properly treated, it will pollute the soil and water.

Wastewater discharge: If the wastewater produced during the cooling and washing process contains heavy metals such as lead, it will pollute the water source if it is discharged without treatment.

Noise pollution: The high noise generated by the operation of the rotary kiln affects the surrounding environment and residents.

3. Improvement measures

Waste gas treatment: Install desulfurization and dust removal equipment to reduce sulfur dioxide and dust emissions.

Waste slag utilization: Harmless treatment or resource utilization of waste slag, such as extracting valuable metals or using it as building materials.

Wastewater treatment: Establish a wastewater treatment system to ensure that it meets the emission standards.

Noise control: Use sound insulation and noise reduction measures to reduce noise pollution.

The extraction of lead from lead ore by rotary kiln has problems of low energy efficiency and environmental pollution, but through technical improvements and strict management, it can effectively improve energy utilization efficiency and reduce environmental impact, and achieve sustainable development of the lead ore extraction process.