Investigation on the heavy metal content of zinc–carbon and alkaline manganese dry cells

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 1213 - 1217
• Main Authors: Recknagel, Sebastian, Richter, Andrea, Richter, Silke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; CADMIUM; CARBON; Carbon - analysis; Electric Power Supplies; ELECTROCHEMISTRY; Exact sciences and technology; HEAVY METALS; HYDROGEN; Hydrogen - chemistry; LEAD; Lead - chemistry; MANGANESE; Manganese - analysis; MATERIALS SCIENCE; MERCURY; Mercury - chemistry; Metals, Heavy - analysis; MICROWAVE RADIATION; Microwaves; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pollution; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Waste Management; Wastes; ZINC; Zinc - analysis; Mercury; Heavy metal
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2008.06.042
• ISSN: 0956-053X

The objective of this work was to test the compliance of commercially available batteries with the German Battery Ordinance, a project of the German government that was initiated by the Federal Environment Agency. Different types of commercially available dry cells were analysed for their cadmium, lead and mercury contents. The dry cells underwent mechanical pre-treatment, separation of the different components and microwave-assisted digestion before determination of the heavy metals. Mercury is sometimes added to prevent the generation of gaseous hydrogen from the electrochemical process. Lead could be present since it is sometimes used as an alloying element of zinc. Cadmium has no technical importance and is an undesirable impurity. None of the batteries contained higher heavy metal mass fractions than the permissible limits.