A Hydrometallurgical Approach to Recover Zinc and Manganese from Spent Zn-C Batteries

Abstract

This study addresses the recovery of recovery of zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) from spent dry cell (Zn-C battery) batteries using a hydrometallurgical approach. Every year, a significant number of Zn-C dry cell batteries are consumed and disposed worldwide. Zn-C dry cell batteries constitute more than 60% of Zn and Mn together. Higher amount of Zn and Mn present in Zn-C dry cells shows an industrial interest in recycling and recovering Zn and Mn. In this study the recovery of Zn and Mn from spent dry cells was investigated through an energy efficient hydrometallurgical route. Zn-C batteries were manually dismantled to collect the battery paste. Neutral leaching was carried out to remove potassium and non-metal contents. The battery powder was leached in sulfuric acid medium with glucose as reducing agent. The experiments were conducted according to ‘24 full factorial design’. The purpose of the design was to identify the most effective and optimum condition for Zn and Mn recovery from spent Zn-C batteries. Using the optimum operating condition, up to 86.54 % of Mn and 82.19% of Zn were recovered from the original battery powder.

INVESTIGATION OF DISSOLUTION KINETICS OF Zn AND Mn FROM SPENT ZINC-CARBON BATTERIES IN SULPHURIC ACID SOLUTION

“…A lot of studies were found related with hydrometallurgical processes for recovery of manganese and zinc from spent zinc-carbon batteries in the literature (Shin, et al, 2009;Ferella, et al, 2008;Baba, et al, 2009;sayilgan, et al, 2010;Gęga and Walkowiak, 2011;Kursunoglu and Kaya, 2014;Buzatu, et al, 2014;Taner, et al, 2016;Abedin, et al, 2017;Chen, et al, 2017). Generally, these studies were carried out using only basic solution, acidic solution (hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid) or reductive agents with these acid solutions.…”