Common routes to the fabrication of bulk Bi2223 superconducting material often involve carbonates as precursors, leading to the presence of carbon residues on grain boundaries, which in turn results in weak links and there fore low critical current densities. With the help of thermoanalytical and other techniques, we have investigated alternative procedures. A four-step process has been developed, by which carbon-free Bi2223, with or without Pb, can be synthesised.