Raw materials and accessories for lead-acid batteries

What is lead-acid battery recycling?

As already mentioned, lead-acid battery recycling has a long tradition, especially in industrialised countries. The battery and scrap trade takes back spent batteries free of charge or even pays the metal value.

What raw materials are used in batteries?

nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn). Of these materials, antimony, present in lead–acid batteries in vehicles and energy storage, and cobalt plus natural graphite, used in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, are marked as critical in the 2017 list of critical raw materials.

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.

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.

Which metal is used in lithium ion batteries?

Aluminum is used as cathode material in some lithium-ion batteries. Antimony is a brittle lustrous white metallic element with symbol Sb. It was discovered in 3000 BC and mistaken as for lead. The main producer is China and the metal is used in lead acid batteries to reinforce the lead plates, reduce maintenance and enhance performance.

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.