Process of recycling
After having responded to the calls for tenders of the European compliance schemes in charge of the collection, the sorted alkaline / saline batteries are sent to the Commentry site on a 3000t storage area made up of several dedicated stalls for each supplier in order to ensure traceability of flows.
NiMH batteries are traded on the market and stored in a specific building.
Erasteel Recycling’s recycling expertise has led to the development of a process to introduce mixtures of alkaline, saline and NiMH batteries in a continuous arc furnace.
The fumes from the furnace are extracted in a dedicated processing unit for the production of zinc oxide.
The molten metal will make it possible to develop a specific range of ferronickel intended for the stainless steel market.
The manganese will remain on the surface in the kiln and will be sold in the form of manganese slag for the production of silico-manganese alloys.
Products and environment
The products recycled by this process are
- Alloys FeNi: 20-25% Ni
- Manganese slag: up to 47% MnO
- Zinc oxyde: up to 82% ZnO
The recycling process developed by Erasteel Recycling helps to protect, preserve and improve the quality of the environment by reducing the negative impact of used batteries. No waste is generated in this process.
Erasteel Recycling confirms its commitment to the social and solidarity economy. A partnership has been developed for several years with the Jura Alcoholism Dispensary Association (ADLCA): as part of the reintegration and vocational training, an exclusive sorting contract has existed since 2012.
The collection, sorting and recycling of batteries are subject to the European Battery Directive 2006/66 / EC.
The recycling efficiency resulting from this process reaches 80%. It exceeds the rate required in the European directive (50%) and corresponds to the best process available on the market today.