What is a lead acid battery?

Lead-acid batteries are the oldest type of rechargeable battery still in use today. They are more commonly found in larger applications and are used when there is a requirement for short, powerful surges of energy. Like the kind of surge needed to turn the starter motor on a car or truck.

What materials are used to make a battery?

The individual parts are shredded to form granulate and this is then dried. The process produces aluminum, copper and plastics and, most importantly, a black powdery mixture that contains the essential battery raw materials: lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt and graphite.

Which material is used in lithium ion batteries?

Graphite is used as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries. It has the highest proportion by volume of all the battery raw materials and also represents a significant percentage of the costs of cell production.

Where do lead batteries come from?

Lead batteries also come from repair workshops, the reprocessing of scrap car bodies and at municipal collection centres. In Germany, for example, this well functioning and effective collection system has led to a return rate of more than 95% for starter batteries and almost 100% for industrial batteries.

Where are lead batteries recycled?

In developing countries spent lead batteries are recycled both in industrial facilities and by informal small enterprises. Industrial recycling smelters use both the grid metal and the lead-containing paste to produce secondary lead.

What materials are used for lead recycling?

The major source of raw material for lead recycling are starter batteries from motor vehicles. Modern car batteries consist of a PP (polypropylen)-casing, plates (grids and paste), connectors/poles and bridges, and PP-separators as insulators between the plates (Fig 1). Paste consists of Pb, PbO2 and PbSO4.