Characterization of Zn and Mn in spent Zn-Mn batteries

The aim of this paper is to characterize Zn and Mn of spent alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries by using chemical analysis, BCR analysis, SEM-EDS and XRD analysis after having dismantled the batteries into the anode and cathode components. Experimental results have shown that, Mn and Zn accounted for 49.2% and 10.3% of the mass of anode material in spent alkaline batteries respectively, and they were present as hetaerolite (ZnMn₂O₄) in the tetragonal hausmannite-type structures. Zn accounted for 52.5% in the cathode material in the form of ZnO. In contrast, in spent zinc-carbon batteries, Mn and Zn accounted for 41.8% and 25.2% of the mass of hybrid electrolytes, and they existed in the form of ZnMn₂O₄, MnO₂, Zn₅(OH)₈Cl₂·H₂O and Zn(NH₃)₂Cl₂. BCR experiment indicated that Mn of anode material in alkaline batteries and hybrid electrolytes in zinc-carbon batteries were present almost entirely as residual which was difficult to extract by using acidolysis method; however, Zn of the cathode material in A-A batteries was liable to recycle.