SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): A research team from Rice University announced that they have successfully developed a novel battery recycling technique, which has the potential to recover more than 98% of metal from mixed battery waste.

The new method eliminates acidic leaching from secondary waste solutions. In addition, it results in tremendous reduction in the duration of recycling process. The new method is highly significant as the demand for valuable metals is expected to witness notable surge in the forthcoming decades with the widespread acceptance of clean energy technologies across the globe.

The research was done using patented Joule-heating technique, by which the combined cathode and anode waste were brought to temperatures in excess of 2,100 degrees Kelvin in a matter of few seconds. The high temperature enabled the removal of the inert layer on battery metals and lowering of oxidation state, thus making them easily soluble in low-concentration acid.

The reduced use of energy, water and acid coupled with significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions leads to significantly lower battery waste recycling costs.

The new method reduces the environmental footprint of spent battery processing, noted Jinhang Chen, co-lead author of the study.