Can fruit peel effectively recycle old batteries?

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Fruit Peel Demonstrates Efficacy in Recycling Old Lithium-Ion Batteries

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have developed a novel method that effectively recycles old lithium-ion batteries by utilising fruit peel waste. This innovative approach extracts precious metals from spent batteries and repurposes them into new, functional ones, addressing both food and electronic waste streams.
Metal Recovery Rates Comparable to Conventional Methods

The NTU team's research, exemplified by the use of orange peel, has shown a remarkable ability to recover approximately 90% of key metals, including cobalt, lithium, nickel, and manganese, from discarded lithium-ion batteries. This recovery rate is comparable to existing methods that employ hydrogen peroxide for metal extraction. The process involves combining oven-dried, ground orange peel powder with citric acid, a weak organic acid.
Enhanced Recovery Through Cellulose and Antioxidants

The effectiveness of this fruit peel-based method is attributed to the cellulose content within the orange peel. When subjected to heat during the extraction process, this cellulose converts into sugars, which subsequently enhance the recovery of metals from the battery waste. Natural antioxidants present in orange peel, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, may also contribute to this enhanced recovery efficiency.
Environmentally Sound Process with Non-Toxic Residues

A significant advantage of this new recycling technique is its environmentally sound nature. Lab experiments indicated that the solid residues generated from the fruit peel recycling process are non-toxic. This contrasts with conventional battery treatment methods that often involve high temperatures (exceeding 500°C), leading to the emission of hazardous gases, or the use of strong acids and hydrogen peroxide, which can produce secondary pollutants.
Functional New Batteries Assembled from Recovered Materials

The recovered precious metals have been successfully used to assemble new lithium-ion batteries. These newly created batteries have demonstrated a charge capacity that is similar to that of commercially available batteries, validating the viability of the recycling process. Further research is currently being conducted to optimise the charge-discharge cycling performance of these batteries made from recycled materials.

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Can fruit peel effectively recycle old batteries?

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