Recycling Used Lead-Acid Auto Batteries
Recycling Used Lead-Acid Auto Batteries
Recycling used lead-acid auto batteries is very important because of the nature of their composition and uses. People use lead-acid batteries as backup power supplies and to power things like:
- Automobiles
- Electric scooters
- Electric wheelchairs, etc.
The acid provides the electrochemical effect that powers these machines. Like every other battery or power source, the lead-acid auto batteries deplete or dilute and the chemicals start losing its efficiency due to:
- Loss of water
- Overcharging
- Sulfation
Because of the toxicity of the lead-acid batteries, most countries have prohibited the indiscriminate disposal of them i.e. incinerating or dumping, and have highly recommended recycling used lead-acid auto batteries.
Why Recycle Lead-Acid Auto Batteries?
Why recycle your car batteries or lead-acid batteries? Is recycling used lead-acid auto batteries recommended for disposing of them?
These batteries contain acids; toxic acids i.e. sulfuric acid which is very corrosive. They indiscriminate disposal of these batteries can be detrimental to human lives and the environment may lead to:
- Rainwater
- The decimation of agricultural land
- Death of plants, etc.
Therefore, recycling used lead-acid auto batteries is necessary.
How to Recycle Lead-Acid Auto Batteries?
Recycling used lead-acid auto batteries should be done carefully and with all consciousness, preferably in a controlled environment far from residential areas. So, what are the steps involved?
- First, recycling companies collect dead or used lead-acid auto batteries for battery depositories.
- The recycling company then neutralizes the acids. They Introduce a base that subdues the corrosive properties (toxicity) of the acid so it can be safely disposed of.
- A hammer mill shatters the battery or breaks it apart. The process is referred to as hammering.
- Then, place broken pieces in a vat, so that the lead plates and heavy materials sink to the bottom while the plastic floats.
- They transport the polypropylene plastics into a plastic recycler to melt and refine them.
- Cleaning the lead plates and heating them in furnaces so that they melted. After this, cast the molten lead into an ingot mold. After some minutes, the impurities float to the top of the cast and they scrape them away.
- Finally, they re-melt the pure ingot casts and use them in new batteries.
Conclusion
Therefore, because of the acid content, it is highly advisable not to try recycling used lead-acid auto batteries by yourself. You can take or sell them to Interco for recycling purposes.