Battery recycling: Effect of current density on manganese recovery through electrolytic process

Abstract

This work aims to verify the possibility of using depleted batteries as a source of manganese dioxide applying the electrolytic process. An electrolyte solution containing the following metal ions was used: Ca (270 mgL-1), Ni (3.000 mgL-1), Co (630 mgL-1), Mn (115.3 mgL-1), Ti (400 mgL-1) and Pb (20 mgL-1). The production of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) was performed through electrolysis at 98°C (± 2°C) applying different current densities (ranging from 0.61 A.dm-2 to 2.51 A.dm-2). The materials obtained were analyzed through X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, specific surface area (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The best results regarding the current efficiency, purity grade and specific surface area were obtained with a current density ranging between 1.02 A.dm-2 and 1.39 A.dm-2. The allotropic ϵ-MnO2 variety was found in all tests.