Recycling Old Batteries and Plastic Together: A New and Simple Way

Did you know that old batteries and plastic waste can be a match made in heaven? Scientists have found a clever way to recycle both at the same time. They mix old batteries with a type of plastic called polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The result? They can get back valuable metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt without using any harsh chemicals. This method, called synergetic pyrolysis, involves heating up the mixture to super high temperatures. First, the batteries and plastic are melted down together at 400°C. Then, the temperature goes up to 550°C for half an hour. During this time, the battery turns into several new compounds: lithium carbonate, manganese oxide, and an alloy of nickel and cobalt.But why does adding PET help? It turns out that PET has a special ability. It can break down the battery's structure, making it easier to separate the valuable metals. This is because of something called surface adsorption and free radical reactions. After the high-temperature treatment, the metals can be easily washed out with water. And guess what? Over 99% of the metals can be recovered! This is great because these metals can be expensive and hard to get. The best part? The recycled metals can be used to make brand new batteries! Isn't that cool? This method not only solves the problem of battery waste but also reduces plastic waste. It's like killing two birds with one stone!