Battery recycling
Under battery recycling (also Batterierezyklierung ) is the material recycling of batteries and accumulators for obtaining the elements contained therein, such as lead , cadmium or zinc , understood. For used batteries, there is a statutory return obligation for consumers and a take-back obligation for retailers, public waste disposal companies, manufacturers and importers.
Battery recycling techniques
Zinc-carbon, zinc-air and alkaline-manganese batteries
Zinc-carbon , zinc-air and alkaline-manganese batteries contain considerable amounts of zinc , which is the focus of the recycling of these batteries. The Imperial Smelting Process (IS) is the most important process for recycling zinc-containing batteries. The process enables the use of various zinc-containing substances and therefore requires U. process steps that precede the melting. As they are irrelevant for battery recycling, they are not considered here. The zinc-containing batteries are placed in the furnace along with coke. The zinc evaporates and leaves the furnace together with the exhaust gases. In an absorber, liquid lead is blown into the exhaust gases as a fine mist. Zinc forms an alloy with the lead droplets and can be pumped out. The mixture separates again into lead and zinc by cooling. While the liquid zinc can be tapped and further processed ( refining ), the lead is pumped back into the absorber.
Another process was developed by Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Batrec Industrie AG . In the Batrec (Sumitomo) process, the old batteries are heated to 600–750 ° C in a shaft furnace. A reducing hot wind is used for this. The gases produced during the pyrolysis process are then completely oxidized in an afterburning chamber. In order to avoid the formation of dioxins , the reaction products from the afterburning chamber are suddenly cooled to 60 ° C and then fed to an exhaust gas cleaning system. The battery residues from pyrolysis are placed in a melting furnace. The material is heated to 1,500 ° C by means of induction coils. In a reducing atmosphere, the contained oxides are reduced by adding carbon and magnesium oxide and the metals are melted. Zinc evaporates and is fed into an absorber. There, liquid zinc is sprayed into the exhaust air flow, on which the gaseous zinc condenses. Then it is poured into bars. Due to the high carbon monoxide content, the remaining exhaust gas can be used as an energy supplier for pyrolysis. In the melting furnace there is still slag and ferromanganese, which are easy to separate due to their different density. The ferromanganese is supplied to steel works as a master alloy. The slag is to be deposited.
Nickel-cadmium batteries
A container with around 500 kg of nickel-cadmium batteries (NiCd batteries) is placed in a vacuum distillation furnace . The furnace is then evacuated to 0.1 mbar . An internal furnace temperature of 100 to 150 ° C is achieved using induction coils. The temperature is sufficient to evaporate the water contained and any volatile organic components that may be present. This is followed by further heating to 750 ° C and the addition of process agents to reduce the cadmium oxide contained. Due to the low pressure, the cadmium evaporates at 310 ° C (instead of 767 ° C under normal pressure). The cadmium condenses in a cold place and can be separated with a purity of 99.9 to 99.99%. A low-cadmium nickel-iron mixture (cadmium content depending on the duration of the treatment 5–300 ppm) and an oil-water mixture remain in the furnace. The latter mixture can be processed chemically and physically. The nickel-iron mixture can either be separated or e.g. B. used in steel production. Advantages of vacuum distillation are the comparatively low costs, the low cadmium pollution of the nickel-iron mixture and the very low exhaust gas pollution. Cadmium or lead cannot be detected in the exhaust gases.
NiCd batteries can also be used in a pyrolysis furnace. For this purpose, 4000 kg of old batteries are heated to 350–500 ° C in a reducing atmosphere. Within 14 hours, most of the plastic contained is decomposed into volatile hydrocarbons or carbonized. The exhaust gases from the pyrolysis furnace have to be post-treated in a complex manner. After the treatment, 30 µg cadmium per m³ of air can still be detected. The battery remains are then compressed and heated to 900 ° C in a distillation oven. The contained cadmium oxide is reduced and cadmium evaporates. The cadmium vapor condenses on cooling elements. The cadmium and an oil-water mixture can be separated. The third fraction is a nickel-iron mixture with a cadmium content of 0.1 to 0.5% by weight. This recycling method is more expensive than vacuum distillation, and the nickel-iron mixture is more heavily contaminated with cadmium than after vacuum distillation. However, pyrolysis enables a higher throughput.
Nickel-metal hydride accumulators
Vacuum distillation can also be used for NiMH batteries . The focus is on removing the hydrogen it contains. As with the recycling of NiCd batteries, what remains is a nickel-iron mixture that can be passed on to steel manufacturers. In a second process, the batteries are opened in a cutting mill so that the hydrogen can escape. The batteries are then mixed with other nickel-containing waste and used as a master alloy for stainless steel production.
Lithium batteries and rechargeable batteries
Lithium-ion batteries contain metals such as copper and aluminum and - depending on the active material - the transition metals cobalt and nickel . The basic operations of recycling lithium-ion batteries are:
- Deactivating and discharging the accumulator, especially for larger battery systems from electromobility .
- Dismantling of the battery systems, especially for larger battery systems from electromobility .
- Mechanical processes such as shredding , sorting, sieving.
- Electrolyte recovery
- Hydrometallurgical processes for material separation.
- Pyrometallurgical processes for material separation.
By combining these processes,> 90% of the materials in a battery cell (copper, aluminum, graphite, manganese, cobalt, nickel, lithium and organic carbonates of the electrolyte) can be recycled.
Specific hazards when recycling lithium-ion batteries are: electrical hazards, chemical hazards, fire hazards and interactions between these.
A special case of deactivation is vacuum distillation: lithium manganese oxide - primary cells can be recycled with the help of vacuum distillation. Above all, iron containing nickel and ferromanganese are obtained. The rechargeable lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries are metallurgically processed, whereby cobalt, nickel and copper are mainly extracted.
By recycling the lithium-ion battery, the CO 2 footprint of 140 kg CO 2 equivalents / kWh can be reduced by up to 40%.
Situation in the European Union
| country | Response rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 2012 | |
 Belgium
|
59% | - |
 Sweden
|
55% | - |
 Germany
|
39% | 44% |
 Austria
|
44% | - |
 Netherlands
|
32% | - |
 United Kingdom
|
- | 32% |
 France
|
16% | - |
 Switzerland
|
61% | 73% |
The EU stipulated a response rate of 25% from 2012 to 2016. This was increased to 45% in 2016.
Legal basis
The European Union has issued several directives on battery recycling since 1991 . The first RL 91/157 / EEC on batteries and accumulators containing dangerous substances has meanwhile expired. The Directive 93/86 / EEC of 4 October 1993 adapting Directive 91/157 / EEC served to technical progress. RL 2006/66 / EC is currently in force, amended by RL 2008/12 / EC of March 11, 2008; it is to be implemented in national law by September 26, 2008.
Situation in Germany
|
|
|---|---|
| Battery return Germany | |
| 2001 | 38% |
| 2003 | 38% |
| 2004 | 37% |
| 2005 | 37% |
| 2006 | 38% |
| 2007 | 41% |
| 2008 | 42% |
| 2009 | 44% |
| 2010 | 44% |
| 2011 | 45% |
| 2012 | 43.6% |
| 2013 | 45.2% |
| 2014 | 45.3% |
| 2015 | 45.9% |
| 2016 | 45.3% |
| 2017 | 46.9% |
| 2018 | 45.6% |
Legal basis
In Germany , battery recycling is regulated by the Battery Act.
organization
In Germany, every point of sale that sells batteries must also take them back.
An important location for battery recycling is the world's largest sorting plant for recycling batteries UNI-CYC GmbH in Bremerhaven . The so-called SORBAREC X-ray process guarantees a sorting speed and precision that cannot be achieved with any other process. Redux is also located in Bremerhaven, one of the largest battery recycling companies in Europe. It processes more than 7,000 tons of old batteries per year (as of February 7, 2011). Since 2011, Redux has held the majority of the shares in Uni-CYC GmbH. The company Duesenfeld GmbH concentrates on the recycling of lithium-ion batteries without burning graphite and electrolytes .
Response rates
In 2010 more than 14,500 t of used device batteries and accumulators were collected by the Foundation for the Common Battery Take- Back System . The battery legislation looks in § 15 from 2012 a binding collection rate of at least 35%, from 2014 of 40% and in 2016 by 45% before. This target was met in 2016 with 15,964 t.
The situation is different with starter batteries . If you buy a new starter battery, you have to pay a € 7.50 deposit, provided that you do not return an old battery (Section 10 Battery Act ). That is why almost 100 percent of lead-acid batteries in Germany are collected and recycled.
Situation in Austria
Legal basis
Since 1990 there has been a battery regulation for the Waste Management Act; it has been changed three times so far. In addition, there is the Ordinance on Waste Treatment Obligations , which contains more precise provisions on the treatment of old batteries.
Organization and response rates
There is a nationwide collection system in Austria. The Environmental Forum Batteries (UFB) was founded in 1989 as an association of Austrian battery importers and manufacturers for the organization and processing . The old batteries can be handed in at the trade or at the municipal collection points for problematic substances.
Austria's first battery recycling plant for zinc-carbon and alkali-manganese batteries with an annual capacity of 3000 t was put into operation on April 13, 2000 in Vienna on the premises of Fernwärme Wien on Simmeringer Haide . Button cells are brought to a recycling facility in Germany and batteries to recycling facilities in Sweden, France and Germany.
Situation in Switzerland
Legal basis
In Switzerland , battery recycling is regulated by Annex 4.10 of the Ordinance on Environmentally Hazardous Substances, Substances Ordinance StoV .
organization
The return is free thanks to the advanced disposal fee (VEG). Swiss citizens are legally obliged to return the batteries properly, and sellers to take them back. The VEG finances the entire disposal process, i.e. the collection of the batteries, the transport to the recycling plant, the reprocessing of recyclable materials and the education of the population. The fee is based on the weight of the battery. The VEG was introduced on April 1, 2001, initially all household batteries or batteries with a weight of up to 5 kg were subject to the regulation. In order to further increase the response rate, the fee has been levied on all battery types since January 1, 2012. On behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN , the private-law cooperative battery disposal organization INOBAT ensures environmentally friendly disposal. The old batteries are recycled in the globally active Batrec Industrie AG in Wimmis BE . According to its own information, it "is the only company in the world to have developed a system that completely isolates both the dangerous toxins from old batteries and the metallic substances in a closed circuit and converts them into products".
Batteries and rechargeable batteries are used more and more frequently in Switzerland, but thanks to the fact that they are becoming lighter and more powerful and modern devices tend to consume less electricity, the total weight currently remains constant at around 3,500 tonnes per year; a few years ago this value was around 3,800 tons per year, so it has fallen since then.
Response rates
| Battery return Switzerland | |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 61% |
| 2009 | 71% |
| 2010 | 69% |
| 2011 | 67% |
| 2012 | 72.9% |
| 2013 | 70.1% |
| 2014 | 71.4% |
| 2015 | 67.3% |
| 2016 | 67.8% |
In Switzerland, around 70% of used batteries are returned and recycled. The FOEN sets a target value of 80%. These values are high compared to the EU countries, but the rate has stagnated or even declined slightly in recent years. As a possible explanation, INOBAT states that a decline can result from new technologies such as lithium-ion batteries. Since these are rechargeable, they only get back into the recycling process after many hundreds of uses. Both sales and returns are increasing over a longer period of time.
Informing the population
INOBAT invented the Battery-Man in order to inform the population about the consequences of careless disposal of batteries and to "educate" them about correct disposal. With commercials, a tour bus that travels through Switzerland and a website, the Battery-Man brings residents closer to battery recycling, if the Swiss return rates are considered, with good success.
Situation in other countries
France
In France there has been a battery recycling law since May 12, 1999. In 2002 16% of old batteries were collected.
United Kingdom
The UK's battery return lagged behind the rest of Europe at just 2% until 2009. In 2012, the British managed to achieve a response rate of 32%.
Lead-acid batteries ( starter batteries ) and button cells are fully recycled in the UK, while lithium and alkaline batteries are partially recycled. All other types are given abroad (as of October 2012).
Sweden
organization
Battery collection programs have existed in Sweden since 1970, making the country a pioneer in battery recycling. There is Stiftelsen Insamling av Miljofarliga Batterier SIMBA , the Swedish foundation responsible for collecting batteries. Today the municipalities are responsible for recycling batteries. The Swedish Nature Conservation Agency (EPA) let them do the job.
Batteries that contain mercury are sent to SAKAB . The costs are borne by the battery fund, which is covered by fees that importers and manufacturers of batteries containing mercury have to pay. "Returbatt AB / Boliden Bergsoe" is responsible for the collection and recycling of batteries from the retail trade.
Response rates
As can be seen in report 5753 from November 2007, the above-mentioned EU requirements for battery recycling are very low for Sweden.
Informing the population
- From 1987 to 1993 the first nationwide campaign took place to educate citizens about the importance of collecting and recycling batteries. The campaign was launched by the Swedish Nature Conservation Agency (EPA) , the Association of Swedish Local Authorities, the Swedish Association of Waste Management and SAKAB and Uppsala Energi . The campaign supported the creation of SIMBA and, in 1997, the Battery Collection Project (BCP).
- In 1999 the BCP carried out a campaign together with 290 Swedish municipalities with the aim of sensitizing citizens to the subject of battery recycling and thus reducing the number of batteries that end up in household waste.
- Campaigns and competitions have been carried out in schools at regular intervals since 2000. There was a marketing campaign called "Hem till Holken" which was very well received by the population.
- In 2005 there was a special campaign for 3 to 5 year old children.
All of this led to the need for battery recycling to be widely accepted by the Swedish population today. Today there are collection points and even a battery collection system.
Web links
Germany
- GRS Batteries , Foundation for the Joint Take-Back System for Batteries in Germany
- Öcorecell battery return system
- Lithium-ion battery recycling - Duesenfeld GmbH in Braunschweig.
- REDUX Recycling GmbH in Bremerhaven.
Switzerland
- INOBAT , interest group for battery disposal in Switzerland
- Battery-Man , Swiss battery superhero.
- Batrec Industrie AG , Swiss recycling company
Sweden
- Naturvårdsverket , website of the Swedish Nature Conservation Agency .
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Sojka, R. (1998): Innovative Recycling Technologies for Rechargeable Batteries
- ↑ Rentz, O .; Engels, Bernd; Schultmann, Frank (2001): * Investigation of battery recycling processes and systems with regard to ecological and economic relevance with special consideration of the cadmium problem ( Memento of April 13, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF file; 1.37 MB)
- ↑ OekoConsult GmbH (2000): Treatment principles for batteries and accumulators
- ↑ Trueb, LF; Rüetschi, P. (1998): Batteries and accumulators - Mobile energy sources for today and tomorrow
- ^ A b c Christian Hanisch, Jan Diekmann, Alexander Stieger, Wolfgang Haselrieder, Arno Kwade: 27 . In: Jinyue Yan, Luisa F. Cabeza, Ramteen Sioshansi (Eds.): Handbook of Clean Energy Systems - Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries , 5 Energy Storage. Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2015, ISBN 9781118991978 , pp. 2865-2888, doi : 10.1002 / 9781118991978.hces221 .
- ↑ a b ATZ WORLDWIDE. Retrieved June 14, 2019 .
- ↑ Larry Weaver: Myth busting: Battery recycling does work. January 20, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019 (American English).
- ↑ Information from the Foundation for the Joint Take-Back System for Batteries (pdf; 3.12 MB)
- ↑ Hinrich Helms: Further development and in-depth analysis of the environmental balance of electric vehicles. In: Umweltbundesamt.de. Federal Environment Agency, April 2016, accessed on June 14, 2019 .
- ↑ a b EU agrees battery recycling law . In: BBC Online , May 3, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ↑ Information page of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce for Battery Recycling ( Memento of the original dated December 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ GRS Batteries - Success Control 2012 (PDF; 957 kB)
- ↑ GRS Batteries - Success Control 2014 (PDF; 1.2 MB)
- ↑ GRS Batteries - Success Control 2016 (PDF; 1.3 MB)
- ↑ GRS Batteries - Success Control 2017
- ↑ GRS Batteries - Success Control 2018
- ↑ UNI-CYC Technologieberatungs- Projektentwicklungs- und Vertriebs-GmbH ( Memento of the original from April 12, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. at Umwelt-unternehmen.bremen.de
- ↑ Battery recycling: Redux joins Uni-Cyc ( Memento of the original from October 4, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on recyclingportal.eu
- ↑ New recycling method: Second life for e-car batteries - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Video . In: Spiegel Online . December 20, 2019 ( spiegel.de [accessed December 20, 2019]).
- ↑ Federal Law Gazette No. 514/1990
- ↑ Waste Treatment Obligations Ordinance
- ↑ a b www.Batteriensammeln.at
- ↑ Ordinance on environmentally hazardous substances (Substances Ordinance, StoV) (PDF file; 41 kB)
- ↑ FOEN documentation - disposal fee will be charged in advance for all batteries from 2012
- ↑ Battery sales and returns on inobat.ch
- ↑ La collecte et au recyclage des piles on actu-environnement.com
- ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from March 25, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Report: Half UK doesn't recycle household batteries - recyclingportal.eu
- ↑ Will Date: UK 'on course' to meet first battery collection target . letsrecycle.com. September 19, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- ↑ Recycling batteries on direct.gov.uk , from Monday, 15 October 2012 found.
- ↑ A common approach to recycling batteries on ec.europa.eu/environment/, dated Sunday, February 15, 2009.
- ↑ Report angående genomförandet av batteridirektivet (PDF; 2.7 MB) - Naturvårdsverket, from November 2007
