Influence of antimony on the electrochemical behaviour and the structure of the lead dioxide active mass of lead/acid batteries

Currently, lead acid battery is extensively investigated owing to its prevalent use as a startinglighting and ignition device. An essential role for electrochemical reactions is played by the surface area available for conversion reactions and a possible approach is the use of nanostructured electrodes. In this work, lead dioxide nanostructured electrodes were tested in order to investigate the dependence of the charge and discharge behaviour on some parameters such as electrolyte concentration, and a new type of thin separator. In this last case, it is possible to reduce the size of the cell by using a very thin separator comparable to the nanostructured electrode thickness. Besides, a low concentration of electrolyte was also tested for studying its influence on the performance of a nanostructured electrode. Lead dioxide electrodes were cycled at 1C-rate and discharged to a cutoff voltage of 1.2 V up to 90% of the gravimetric capacity. Electrodes were assembled in a zero gap configuration using a commercial negative plate as counter-electrode with a large excess of active mass in comparison to the nanostructured one. Tests were conducted in very stressful conditions, in order to compare the behaviour of this new type of battery with that of the commercial one.

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Lead recovery from spent lead acid battery paste by hydrometallurgical conversion and thermal degradation

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x19872263 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 263-270

Author(s):

Wenke Liu ◽

Qingwei Qin ◽

Dengqi Li ◽

Guangqiang Li ◽

Yinjie Cen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thermal Degradation ◽

Lead Oxide ◽

Lead Dioxide ◽

Scanning Calorimetry ◽

Lead Carbonate ◽

Lead Acid Batteries ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Lead Recovery ◽

Main Component ◽

Lead Acid

Spent lead paste is the main component in lead-acid batteries reaching end of life. It contains about 55% lead sulphate and 35% lead dioxide, as well as minor amounts of lead oxide. It is necessary to recycle spent lead paste with minimal pollution and low energy consumption instead of the conventional smelting method. In this study, a novel approach involving hydrometallurgical desulphurisation and thermal degradation is developed to recover lead as PbO products from spent lead acid batteries. First, the desulphurisation effects and phase compositions of products with different transforming agents were compared, and the optimum conditions using (NH4)2CO3 as a transforming agent were determined. And then, the thermal degradation processes of both precursors lead carbonate and lead dioxide were investigated to prepare α-PbO, Pb3O4, and β-PbO products in argon and air atmospheres, respectively. Both the desulphurisation precursors and the calcination products were characterised by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the lead oxide products were prepared, including α-PbO at 450°C in argon, Pb3O4 and β-PbO at 480°C and 620°C in air, respectively.

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