Hello everyone,
I'm constructing a regional inventory on mercury emissions and products, and I'm trying to find how much mercury is contained in standard lead-acid car batteries? Most reports I have found mention the presence of mercury in these type of batteries but do not address the average or possible percentages. This is very important mainly due to the fact that currently most manufacturers are recycling batteries without removing the mercury from the lead. Normally, battery recyclers will remove the plastic confinement but no the rest of the metals used in the battery. This implies that when the lead is recycled and put into the lead furnace, the mercury will consequently be emitted as mercury vapour. Does anyone have a report on this topic? Thank you very much in advance, any help will be appreciated.
Please see Figure 24 on page 39 of the report that is attached in the link. Mercury comes within the other ingredients (2%) & I think it is around 0.5% "which is really alarming, in case of unwise disposal" {I saw this information somewhere but I did not save the reference}.
I salute you for this research which has noble aims in serving humanity.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/batteries/pdf/battery_report.pdf
Dear Jochen and dear Nizar,
Thank you for replying to the question. I will analyse and use the data you have provided me.
Nizar: yes, that is the real concern, that unwise disposal and lead smelting can increase the emissions by not removing the mercury in prior steps. For the local industry that I'm analysing, I will make the assumption that none of it has been removed and eventually go directly with the companies and require them this specific information.
Regards, feel free to write back.
Julio
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