Lead-acid batteries are widely used on a mass-scale in all parts of the world. They act as power sources in a wide-range of equipment and appliances used by households, commerce and industry. Lead-acid batteries finds wide application in all modes of modern transport including cars, trucks, buses, boats, trains, rapid mass-transit systems, recreational vehicles etc.
During power-cuts, lead-acid batteries provide emergency power for critical operations such as air-traffic control towers, hospitals, railroad crossings, military installations, submarines, and weapons systems. All automotive batteries and 95 percent of industrial batteries are lead-acid secondary cells.
Harmful Impacts of Batteries
Lead-acid batteries contain sulphuric acid and large amounts of lead. The acid is extremely corrosive and is also a good carrier for soluble lead and lead particulate. Lead is a highly toxic metal that produces a range of adverse health effects particularly in young children.
Exposure to excessive levels of lead can cause damage to brain and kidney, impair hearing; and lead to numerous other associated problems. On average, each automobile manufactured contains approximately 12 kilograms of lead. Around 96% lead is used in the common lead-acid battery, while the remaining 4% in other applications including wheel balance weights, protective coatings and vibration dampers.
In the developing world, more than 3 million die each year due to lead contamination from processing of used lead-acid batteries, with South America, South Asia and Africa being the highest affected regions.
Collection Strategies
The most common and most efficient method for the collection of lead-acid batteries is through the battery retailer where a discount is given against the purchase price of a new battery provided the customer returns the used battery. In some countries a deposit has to be paid when a new battery is purchased and is only returned to the customer when the battery is returned to the retailer for recycling.
In several parts of the world, reconditioned lead-acid batteries are offered for sale. In the Caribbean islands there is a thriving second-hand automobile trade and thousands of used Japanese cars are imported into the region every year to be broken up for spares. Many of these vehicles have a used lead acid battery, which is removed from the vehicle and shipped to Venezuela for recycling.
An informal collection mechanism is through rag-pickers who scavenge for discarded materials that can be reused or recycled. Rag-pickers scour waste dumps, strip abandoned vehicles and wrecks and even collect batteries that have been used for standby power in domestic houses.
Recycling Methods
Lead is highly toxic metal and once the battery becomes inoperative, it is necessary to ensure its proper collection and eco-friendly recycling. A single lead-acid battery disposed of incorrectly into a municipal solid waste collection system, and not removed prior to entering a resource recovery facility for mixed MSW, could contaminate 25 tonnes of MSW and prevent the recovery of the organic resources within this waste because of high lead level.
Recycling of used lead acid batteries is a complex process
Recycling of used lead-acid batteries, provided it is done in an environmentally sound manner, is important because it keeps the batteries out of the waste stream destined for final disposal. Lead from storage batteries placed in unlined landfills can even contaminate the groundwater. Given the issues mentioned, sourcing high-quality battery parts is also crucial. Companies like Source One Parts Center provide essential components ensuring longer battery life and sustainability. Recycling prevents the emission of lead into the environment and also avoids the energy usage associated with manufacturing lead from virgin resources.
Obtaining secondary lead from used lead-acid batteries can be economically attractive, depending upon the market price of lead. Recovery of lead from batteries is easier and requires significantly less energy than producing primary lead from ore. Recycling also reduces dispersal of lead in the environment and conserves mineral resources for the future when undertaken in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
Parting Shot
It is to be noted that recycling of used lead acid batteries is not a simple process that can be undertaken in small scale enterprises. Infact lead-acid battery recycling is regarded as one of the worst polluting industries worldwide. Certain control measures should to be taken to prevent adverse impacts to people and the ecology. With exponential rise in consumption of lead-acid batteries, it is imperative on all Middle East nations to put together a viable strategy to tackle the problem of used lead-acid batteries.
Do you know of any companies currently providing responsible battery recycling/disposal in Bahrain?
In Italy,as former manager in the oil and metallurgical sector of the group ENI,I establisched a Consortium for the collection and the recycling of all the lead batteries,automotive and industrial batteries.The consortium was composed from the representative of secondary lead producers and the new batteries producers.I proposed a law which obliges all batteries producers to pay into the consortium every year an amount of money proportional to the sale of new batteries.By this financial ressources it has been possible support all the network of collecting operators and the correct lead recycling by smelting.Vittorio Cariglia
if the melting of old batteries and lead compound you have heavy slag and you have bag filter powder you have not successful in recycling and you destory resources
In the Name of God
Invention Know How For Sale
Attention: Lead Acid Battery Producers and/or Recycling Companies
Introduction to a new recycling system that allows you to recover twice the amount of lead from used batteries and become number one in production and recycling lead acid batteries.
I have made a compound that allow extraction of total lead in used batteries, lead oxide, lead ore/concentrate, and all other lead compounds. You can extract 100% of the existing lead up to the last atom from the first smelting process of any lead product, compound, or concentrate.
When lead acid batteries or other lead compounds are mixed with my compound for smelting, you will have no formation of heavy lead slag or powder in bag filters. My compound turns complete lead content 100% accessible.
My compound has been successfully tested for 22 months in all common kiln and has proved its ability to extract 100% lead content up to the last atom from any lead material/compound.
I am prepared to setup a pilot test in any form or place acceptable to your expert(s) and/or representative(s) to prove the effectiveness and performance of my compound.
Contact Information:
Seyed Mojtaba Hoseyni Javadi
Address: Mojaheden Islam Avenue, Shahid Fayaz Bakhsh Street, Karimi Alley, Zarafshan Dead End, No 4, Apt. 2, Tehran, Iran
Phone: 98-21-33 56 11 09
Mobile: 98-9372261770
email: mj-hoseyni1340@yahoo.com
New furnaces to recycle old batteries
Capacity of 1 to100 ton
The maximum temperature 600 c
Heat radiation indirectly
Melting time%25 of %100 other furnaces
Fuel consumption%25 of %100 other furances
The furnace slag is not
The furnace is not pollution
The melting furnace of coke not used
What Env Impacts & mitigation measures are required for Lead Acid batteries recyclers
Dear Dr. Noman
Thanks for your query. Unfortunately we havent explored the mentioned topics yet. However if there is any specific requirement, we may interested in conducting the study.
Best wishes
Salman Zafar
Founder, EcoMENA
Your blog was quite useful and informative. Yes one has to be very careful while recycling lead acid batteries. The rate at which these lead acid batteries are being used and disposed,I fear for our planet and believe that recycling of this item will do our earth much needed favour.
in a country like cameroon where the respect of norms is still a far reaching dream, i fear one day the environment would reach a level that it can not contain life again
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I wanted to know if the waste from recycling lead-acid batteries called lead slag is toxic and dangerous to people handling it and selling it to foreign buyers. And to use your words what “control measures should to be taken to prevent adverse impacts to people and the ecology?”
Kindly answer.
Thank you.
Thomas Nij Tugo
Dear Thomas
Thanks for your interest in my article and sorry for late reply.
Lead is inherently toxic and should be handled with great caution by battery recycling workers, especially in developing countries. Lead is a source of major health problems among all age groups. This article will provide more insights into this menace http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/05/indonesia-s-toxic-toll/
Regarding potential control measures, please refer to the guidelines of Basel Convention at http://www.basel.int/Portals/4/Basel%20Convention/docs/pub/techguid/tech-wasteacid.pdf
Hope I have been of some help.
Best wishes
Salman Zafar
Founder, EcoMENA
http://www.ecomena.org
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