Press Heavy Metal Waste, BRIN Develops Used Battery Recycle Method

The Integrated Laboratory for Oceanographic Research (LATERIO) of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). (ANTARA-HO-Humas BRIN)

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) developed a used battery recycling method in an effort to reduce environmental problems due to battery waste, which contains heavy metal so that it can endanger the environment and health.

Quoted in BRIN's press release via Antara, BRIN Center for Nanotechnology Research, Octia Flowerin, said that the recycling of used batteries is generally done using the pyromethalurgy, hydromethalurgy, and direct recycling methods.

Pirometelurgi is a used battery recycling method by heating used batteries at high temperatures. This method produces pure metals, but requires a lot of energy.

The hydromethalurgy method carried out by dissolving metal from used batteries using chemical solutions can produce pure metals with lower energy compared to pyrometalurgical.

Meanwhile, the recycling method is done directly by converting used batteries into new battery cathodes. This method has the lowest energy needs, but can only be done on certain types of batteries.

Octia and his team developed a used battery recycling method using hydromethalurgy and ascorbic acid research.

"This method produces pure metals with high efficiency and low energy," said Octia, a research member in the Low-Dimensional Functional Materials Research Group.

Efforts to develop the used battery recycling method are being carried out in collaboration with Osaka University, Kumamoto University, Ming Chi University of Technology in Taiwan, Bandung Institute of Technology, to UPSI Malaysia.

Octia hopes the research can be a solution to address environmental problems and reduce dependence on the mining industry.