Comprehensive utilization of spent magnesia-chrome refractories with gravity separation followed by flotation

•About 99% Ag, 82% Pb and 81% Bi was recovered from spent magnesia-chrome refractories with gravity separation followed by flotation.•The concentrate containing more metals meets the requirement of smelting.•The tailing can be reused as a raw material for new refractory bricks.•Double xanthate and silver butyl xanthate were generated on the silver surface.