Recycling of lead/acid batteries: the Ginatta process

The performance of a recycling plant in Santena, Italy, based on the Ginatta process for the electrochemical recovery of lead from used Pb/acid batteries is reported. Treatment of slimes, processing of inert plates, and the behavior of organic substances in the recovery process have been studied. Antimony present in the bath is oxidized at the lead dioxide anodes and exerts a beneficial influence via inhibition of Pb ion oxidation. Some organic substances must be used to favor a regular Pb electrodeposition. Of the compounds tested, Triton X100 appears to have the greatest beneficial levelling action.