Thanks healybj8.

I am more curious abour recycling of small dry cell batteries we use in any electronic gadgets and torches. Earlier these used to be non rechargable, now a days they are of many verieties like NiCd, Nickel alkaline, Nickel Metal halides and what not.

Can you (or any body) please guide?

Try your local IKEA. I am in Toronto area and they recycle batteries and light bulbs.

Cheers!

Basically its the same process for all batteries. For Ni-Cad batteries, the batteries are disassembled by shredding and/or hammer-mill. The electrolytes are neutralized; the heavy metals are recovered by pyrometallurgical processes; and the heavy metals are sold back into the manufacturing chain.

hi-healybi8

You sound like you know a bit about this subject--tell me, if you will--

How are the battery rebuilding outfits "reconditioning" batteries for resale?

Some will give you a years warrenty or better--I've worked with batteries for near 50 years--The information i've been able to secure over this time is as follows---

1--if the cells are "open" within the casing the battery is recycled as you explain--

2--if the battery is "shorted" within the casing the battery is de-sulphated , emptied ,cleaned of internal derbis , refilled and recharged--if individual cell readings are within spec, (hydrometer readings will assure this) the battery should be good for another year or so , for aprox half the price.

I'm just a little curious since I've restored several "dead" batteries over the years that wouldn't take/hold a charge (I'm talking wet cells) . I'm not at liberty, at this time to disclose my method.

However I didn't know they were shreaded and reclaimed by the method you explained--thanks!

Donzi

I don't know how they are 'reconditioning' the batteries, but have seen these as well. I suppose they are cycling the batteries (charge, discharge, charge, etc) to do the refurbishment. Basically taking an old battery, cycling it to improve the performance then reselling it.

The idea behind the cycling is reduce the built up crystal growth on the plates. As I understand it, the sulfate salts form on the battery plates as the cell discharges. Over time, these do not completely dissolve and you get localized areas where crystals persist. Your short occurrs when the crystal gets large enough to bridge the gap between the battery plates and you lose the cell. Now if you cycle the battery several times by fully charging, then fully discharging you can potentially dissolve away these crystals, thus refurbishing the battery extending its service life. This is what the Germans discovered back in WW1 with their U-boats. If the cell shorts, then the procedure does not work. Basically it was used as a method of preventitive maintenance in submarine fleets for a long time and now it seems someone is buying batteries out of junk yards and doing the same thing and calling these refurbished.

I basically agree with your information, but the new technology is called desulphation which, I beleive, involves appling a alternating ac or dc voltage at some prescribed level & frequency to eliminate (reduce) the sulpher deposits and depositing them on the bottom of the battery casing / which "as you stated" result in internal shorts between the plates. Then the battery is flushed and refilled/recharged, checking the specific gravity for each cell to insure full recovery.

I could be "all wet" in this description, however I have recovered several batteries using a similar method way before desulphation was even spoken of. ( another missed patent opportunity).

I remember those days in the naval nattery room on an aircraft carrier (too many years ago to mention), charging/dischargin batteries on a programmed basis (didn't understand at first why we kept messin with a perfectly good battery).

respectfully--dozi

You may find a link or two to help you here ... .ci.keene.nh.us/publicworks/recycle/hazardous.html paste http://www in front of it.

Regards !

<< ... .ci.keene.nh.us/publicworks/recycle/hazardous.html paste http://www in front of it. >>

Could not make any sense !

Thanks

Dear Sir,

In India Many Second Sale BATTERY reconditioning Small Enterprises are using Old Cells for REBUILDING the Battery for nearly dependable Efficient Power Source for those who can not afford Brand New Battery.

I am located at Bangalore, and just on the main Road near my home location there is a Big Mfg Unit who supplies "Seconds" A New Batteries to TRADERS.

If you could issue the Data of Volume of Scrap cells and Long Term Possibility to be in Bilateral JV Business, I could be of Support to You as Social Objective to CONVERT WASTE in to WEALTH for your Business Plans.

Regards:KK

Thanks Kishore.

I am also from India. I was not aware of any such manufacturer.

I started this thread with the social view only. Whenever I visited some Europen country, by habit (from India), I used to through the dry cell batteries in waste basket. But, some person around would always prevent me from throwing those and collects the dry cell batteries.

In India we throw these creating big environmental hazard.

Thus, I wanted to know how these dry cell batteries are recycled? We should initiate some activity in India.

If there is some SECONDS battery manufacturer, it is good, provided, the manufacturer rebuilds the battery and sales those at lower price, proportionate to the energy it delivers. If he is selling those as couterfeited batteries under branded name, (which is quite possible in India), we should not support them.

Thus, now, if you can let me know the address of the SECONDS battery manufacturer, I can communicate with them and initiate some poor to start collection of old dry cell batteries in my city.

This will give some employment to some person as well as it will help reducing environmetal hazard.