TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS FOR SEPARATION AND RECOVERY OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM USED HOUSEHOLD BATTERIES

The intense development of the recovery of non-ferrous metals from secondary resources in the second half of the twentieth century raised the issue of using new technologies, "environmentally friendly", for processing this type of raw materials, by removing as much as possible noxious processes. Used batteries are also part of this category, and currently only 3-4% of total world battery production is processed in order to recover metals. Developing countries recycle an almost insignificant percentage, and underdeveloped countries are not involved at all, batteries being disposed of with household waste. This paper presents experimental processes regarding the recovery of non-ferrous metals contained in used household batteries (alkaline and zinc-carbon) using simple but efficient processes. Following the research, a technological flow was established, being performed analyses to determine the chemical composition (XRFS) and the morphological aspect (SEM) of the obtained powdery material. The possibilities of capitalization of the materials resulting from the battery disassembly processes are also established.