Characterization of used alkaline batteries powder and analysis of zinc recovery by acid leaching

This paper discusses the spent alkaline batteries characterization and leac hing stage experiments results with sulfuric acid as leachant, as part of a complex system, involving purification and electrolytic stages, aiming the Zn recovery. After dismantling batteries by mineral processing techniques, the black powder sample produced was submitted to X-ray diffraction and at omic absorption spectrophotometry in order to identify its composition. Bat ch laboratory experiments were conducted for acid leaching procedure to det ermine appropriate leaching conditions from the viewpoint of maximum zinc e xtraction. On these tests an amount of dry powder was added to sulfuric aci d at different conditions and after leaching and filtration, the aqueous so lutions were submitted to atomic absorption spectrophotometry analysis to v erify the Zn content. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.