A facile zero-emission electrochemical direct electrolysis strategy combining with the desulfurization technology is proposed to recover high purity lead from the spent lead paste. The influence of the electrolysis time, working temperature, current density and electrolyte composition is systematically studied to investigate the variation of phase compositions, current efficiency and specific energy consumption of the process. The experimental results demonstrate that spent lead paste could be well converted into high purity metal lead via the cooperative electrochemical reduction and desulfurization approaches during the direct electrolysis process. Under the optimum parameters (200 A m(-2) at 40 degrees C in 200 g L-1 (NH4)(2)SO4 solution), the lead recovery ratio in the electrolytic product reaches as high as 95.61%. Although the hydrogen evolution reaction occurs at the late stage of the reduction process, the cathodic current efficiency could still reach 87.63%, and the corresponding specific energy consumption during the direct electrolysis is 597.7 kWh per ton spent lead paste, revealing the ecological and economic feasibility of the strategy. As an important contribution for the recycling economy, the process provides a viable alternative to recycle metal lead from spent lead paste in lead-acid battery with a convenient and environment-friendly route.