Used Battery Collection and Recycling (Industrial Chemistry Library)

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Among other recycling companies, Sony and Sumitomo Metal in Japan and Umicore in Belgium have developed technology to retrieve cobalt and other precious metals from spent lithium ion batteries. Spent packs are dismantled and melted in an UHT furnace. The derbies are separated into metal alloy containing copper, cobalt and nickel, and slag, a stony waste containing rare earth metals. Slag can be further processed to recover lithium, but producing battery-grade lithium is not yet economical and the slag is used for construction.

Methods are being developed to extract lithium for reprocessing into lithium carbonate for Li-ion production. With an anticipated fold growth in the use of Li-ion batteries between and , the reuse of lithium could become economical so the metals end up in battery production again much like lead for lead acid batteries. Recycling starts by sorting batteries into chemistries. Collection centers place lead acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal-hydride and lithium ion into designated drums, sacks or boxes. Battery recyclers claim that recycling can be made profitable if a steady stream of batteries, sorted by chemistry, is made available.

The recycling process begins by removing the combustible material, such as plastics and insulation, with a gas-fired thermal oxidizer. This leaves the clean and naked cells with metal content. The cells are then chopped into small pieces and heated until the metal liquefies. Non-metallic substances are burned off, leaving a black slag on top that a slag arm removes. The alloys settle according to weight and are skimmed off like cream from raw milk while still in liquid form.

Cadmium is relatively light and vaporizes at high temperatures. In a process that appears like a pan of water boiling over, a fan blows the cadmium vapor into a large tube that is cooled with water mist.

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The vapors condense to produce cadmium that is Other battery recyclers use nuggets 7 pound, 3. The pigs, hogs and nuggets are shipped to metal recovery plants where they are used to produce nickel, chromium and iron for stainless steel and other high-end products. To reduce the possibility of a reactive event during crushing, some recyclers use a liquid solution or freeze lithium-based batteries with liquid nitrogen; however, mixing Li-ion starter batteries with the common lead acid type still remains a problem as a charged Li-ion is far more explosive than lead acid.


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Battery recycling is energy intensive. Reports reveal that it takes 6 to 10 times more energy to reclaim metals from some recycled batteries than from mining. The exception is the lead acid battery, from which lead can be extracted easily and reused without elaborate processes. To some extent, nickel from NiMH can also be recovered economically if available in large quantities. New recycling methods are being developed that retrieve the metals by electrolysis, also knowns as chemical recycling.

The process is said to be more cost effective and produces higher yields with less pollutants than traditional smelting. One such alternative to recycle lead acid batteries has been developed by Aqua Metals. This technology has the potential of revolutionizing traditional melting methods. An electrochemical process separates the lead by breaking down metals into nanoscopic sizes particles that are dispersed in water to create a hydro-collodial metal.

The process is called AquaRefining. Technical issues are delaying full implementation at this time. Each country sets its own rules and adds tariffs to the purchase price of a new battery to make recycling feasible. In North America, some recycling plants invoice by weight and the rates vary according to chemistry. While NiMH yields a fairly good return with nickel, the spent NiCd battery is less in demand because of soft cadmium prices.

Due to poor metal retrieval value, Li-ion commands a higher recycling fee than most other battery types. Recycling Li-ion batteries is not yet profitable must be government subsidized. There is an incentive to recover costly cobalt. No recycling technology exists today that is capable of producing pure enough lithium for a second use in batteries.

Lithium for batteries is mined; second hand lithium is used for lubricants, glass, ceramics and other applications. Ideally, this would include transportation, but moving and handling the goods is expected to double the overall cost. To simplify transportation, Europe is setting up several smaller processing plants in strategic geographic locations. This, in part, is due to the Basel Convention that prohibits the export of complete but spent lead acid batteries.

As the volume of discarded batteries increases, new technologies are being tried to make recycling profitable without the support of agencies and governments. Comments are intended for "commenting," an open discussion amongst site visitors. Battery University monitors the comments and understands the importance of expressing perspectives and opinions in a shared forum. However, all communication must be done with the use of appropriate language and the avoidance of spam and discrimination.

If you have a suggestion or would like to report an error, please use the " contact us " form or email us at: We like to hear from you but we cannot answer all inquiries. Seems out of line to me. With increase in Hybrid, Electric EV , Plug-in Electric PEV , and Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles; we are going to have mountains of lithium-ion based batteries that will fill up our land fields if we do not recycle.

Why Recycle?

It is estimated that if our cars were all of the type named above, we will produce 2 billion tons of lithium-ion batteries for our landfields every year. Recycling batteries is good topic and we need to search and invent techniques to recycle it. Because after some time we find many unused batteries. Wireless microphone systems burn through a lot of batteries. We can help you recycle and make some money in the process. This patented, environmentally friendly Marlie process will eliminate the need to landfill dry cell batteries, and will do so for literally pennies a pound.

And this process does not incinerated the batteries. You can all see and read about this system at this site, and if there are any questions please feel free to ask. The problem begins by sorting the batteries into chemistries. There is many types and battery kinds. That is like sugar and salt mixed: With a new technology able to recycle both all battery types with a good efficiency and Does anyone know of such a facility?

I know of one in Anaheim California, but that is farther than I would like to ship the materials. Car batteries are profitable to recycle. Every part gets reused. Separator plates similarly make more plates. Only real problem is contaminaton with copper from battery leads that ge cut off with bolt cutters leaving the brass terminals on the terminal posts.

I have few questions… Whether recycled lead is as pure as virgin lead. If not how much? What is recycled lead cost against virgin lead LME cost? If recycled lead cost less, then why we use virgin lead? Well, this is a very valuable post. Thanks for the information you provided. It would be great if got more post like this. We live in Honduras. The largest Department store here, Diunsa, is actively looking for such a facility.

You would do the world a BIG favor if you could provide this information. We are looking for a battery recycler that buys alkaline batteries. We aquire approx 10, lbs per month. Call us at , we are a battery and electronics recycler and would be happy to discuss options with you. We pay top dollar for all equipment and batteries. Recycling batteries can actually reduce the damages of brain and kidney, which are caused by exposure of the toxic metals from used batteries. Hi Guys, does anyone know what I can do with the old liquid from Nickel Cadmium batteries if I was to recycle them?

These suffer from economy of scale. I will like to know more into batteries i did learn cell in a tech sch but now working with batteries. I live in College Park M.

BU-705: How to Recycle Batteries

The person who answered my call assured me there was no need for careful disposal - she actually made me feel like an idiot. I told her that there is a picture of a garbage can with a line through it like Ghost Busters , but she brushed me off. Battery Recyclers and Sanitation departments should at the very least send this information to Fire Departments or another local agency where people can learn and also KNOW where to bring them.

The common disposable alkaline batteries now do not need to be recycled, they no longer have harmful components. Some local libraries take recyclable batteries also one of ours does. And in CT there is a hazardous waste collection in many towns twice a year, the schedule rotates from place to place on Saturday mornings maybe MD does too?


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Thanks, Paddy, ur cool! Can you add the pertinent part of your response to Paddy the first 2 lines to the top of the main article? Many companies recycle alluminum, glass, carboard, and all the metals. Many are compensated by their state to recycle the above materials. Than why do we, as citizens allow for hazardous materials, such as batteries to enter our landfills without a second thought. There should be established a recycling fee added to a battery when the battery is purchased. And than this fee returned to the purchaser upon the battery being returned for recycling just as alluminum can redemption fee is given.

Wow, what an easy solution. I like the idea of the added fee, but the entity that collects the batteries needs to be compensated by the state? Suggest this to your state legislature! Hi ben Here is a site for you to look at on Recycling Batteries. Maybe joan bouchard might want to read up on it also. Could anybody help me rough out the cost of processing lead acid batteries on a per ton basis? Hi everyone - In Honduras we are making progress - we now have a big-box store chain Diunsa that accepts Ni-Cad and Lithium-Ion batteries for recycling here. Give thanks today for recyclers all over the world - Joan!

I want to give resolution for the Operators. Hai Battery lead recycling is not easy. Where did you get the idea that it takes more energy to recycle battery materials than to use virgin materials? That is totally wrong, and the statement should be removed. Great post on how to recycle old batteries. Proper care should be taken while recycling batteries in order to prevent hazardous materials and gases from entering environment.

Also tell me how to recycle mobile batteries. Thanks for your useful article about recycling batteries. But i have to fully-discharge them to ensure for safety conditions. How can I do this? Actually i am planing to place an industry of lead smelting plant in INDIA, for this we need your help regarding the collection of dead batteries and extracting the lead and re making of batteries. I hope you definitely help to place a lead smelting plant in India, thanking you sir..

I got no answer to my question here. Is it dangerous to do it myself? I have large consignment of lead from used batteries.

Used Battery Collection and Recycling

We have already separated the plastic casing from the content lead. I need serious buyers. Hi - great article and comments! I know that lead-acid is essentially closed loop. Generally the highest quality batteries use the bulk of virgin lead and the huge mass of starter batteries which have far lower requirements use up much of the recycled lead. True closed-loop manufacture is profitable in lead-acid batteries. But with lithium I have heard that a true closed-loop system in the way lead-acid is largely closed loop where the battery material is in no way profitable and in fact would push the cost of the cells way up if implemented.

This is particularly true once expensive cobalt is less frequently used in li-ion batteries. So if li-ion batteries had to be broken down and remade as new li-ion batteries, what would be the cost of the recycled cell? Anyone seen such info anywhere?


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Great article, thanks tons. We are looking to setup our own Battery Recycling plant here in North India. We already have available to us Land space and Initial Investment for the project. We require technical expertise to guide us and help us procure the right machinery. We are ready to work on a profit sharing basis or even project basis. First of all, Mr. It is just another form of the scrap metal business. What amazed me is this thread is 5 years old, yet it is still active! This is a good example of a thing our governments could do more than just regulate.

I believe webwill all be digging through our landfills, and expending great energy to recover metals, in my lifetime,. I would love to find the right person to recycle Batterys with if you now any body please let me now thank you. Require lithium ion battery scrape in bulk quantity Please contact ; E-mail; arkrashid20 gmail. Have lots of li-ion batteries mobile phone Contacts removed. We purchase large volumes of all types of batteries, around the world, primarily LiIon Batteries from cell phones, laptops, modems, scanners, power tools, etc.

With finite, but huge, lithium resources, and the very small lithium content of GP batteries, it appears hardly worth recycling them. However the advent of PV cars, lorries etc will only increase the use of these resources. Please remember that these large lithium resources are irreplaceable, and when, like oil, they are exhausted we have two problems. Firstly the pollution from disposed batteries and second, the replacement technology.

Do we want a nuclear car pile? Lets recycle, effectivly, what we have left of this planets resources rather than squandering them. Last, but not great, with lithium resources and very small lithium content of GP batteries, they do not need to be processed. However, there are cars, trucks, and so on.

Increases the use of these resources. Remember that these lithium resources are exhausted and we have two issues when they are exhausted. Firstly, the contamination of the waste batteries and, secondly, the replacement technology. Do we want a nuclear vehicle? This will allow the planet to recycle efficiently, leaving its resources abandoned. To produce lead oxide: Can I recycling the old lead doxide to new lead oxide by this process: At first I have a proposal to produce the oxide.

It can be another way to get new oxide for example: We want to get a new oxide which is scientifically called lead oxide pbo Which is yellow. Ok, you know that the old paste in the positive panels of the battery is a lead dioxide pbo2 and dark brown. Looking forward to have international network and partners. The batteries charge up nicely and the OPUS has lots of nifty features. Neither the OPUS charger box nor the instruction leaflet lists a corporate address. No website or phone number, either.

Thank you for providing such a valuable information, I was wondering this communication started in with some appreciation and still going on with companies seeking batteries earn some money. Guys please love nature not the increasing numbers in your bank account….. Energetic industry is my career field.

Used battery collection and recycling

I would like to participate in its sustainability of its raw materials…. I need to set-up an e-waste battery recycling centre. Particular consideration is given to the released emissions, i. Methods for the evaluation of this impact are described. Several chapters deal with specific battery chemistries: The chemicals recoverable from each process and remarketable are mentioned. A chapter deals with recovering of the large batteries powering electric vehicles, e.

The final chapter is devoted to the important topic of collecting batteries from used electrical and electronic equipment. The uncontrolled disposal of these devices still containing their batteries contributes to environmental pollution. Allow this favorite library to be seen by others Keep this favorite library private. Find a copy in the library Finding libraries that hold this item Electronic books Additional Physical Format: Used battery collection and recycling.

Document, Internet resource Document Type: Covers various aspects of spent battery collection and recycling. This work includes an overview of the battery systems, of the chemicals used in them and their hazardous properties is made, followed by a survey of the major industrial recycling processes.

Battery Recycling Market Size | Industry Research Report,

It stresses the safety and efficiency of such processes. Reviews User-contributed reviews Add a review and share your thoughts with other readers. Add a review and share your thoughts with other readers. Similar Items Related Subjects: Storage batteries -- Recycling. Electric batteries -- Environmental aspects. Linked Data More info about Linked Data. Environmental and human health impact assessments of battery systems. Portable rechargeable batteries in europe: Battery collection and recycling in Japan.

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