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Recycling Spent Primary Cells for the Synthesis of Spinel ZnMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> using Waste Polypropylene as Reductant in a Microwave Oven


JR Dankwah
BO Sakyiama
M Acquah
F Adjei-Kyeremeh
P Koshy

Abstract

This work investigates the recycling of spent primary cells for the synthesis of spinel zinc manganese oxide (ZnMn2O4) using waste polypropylene as reductant in a domestic microwave oven. Spent zinc-carbon batteries (TigerHead brand) were cut into approximately two equal parts and the MnO2/Mn2O3/ZnO/carbon black mixture was carefully removed. The residual casing was dismantled and scrap iron, plastic and paper separated. The removed mixture was soaked in water for 24 hours after which it was filtered and the residue air-dried for 24 hours and pulverised in a mortar using a pestle. The pulverised mass was thoroughly mixed with pulverised polypropylene obtained from a mixture of waste bucket and the cap of the zinc-carbon battery. The mixture was then placed in a fireclay crucible and irradiated in a domestic microwave oven (Pioneer, Model PM-25 L, 2450 MHz, 1000 W) for 20 minutes and reaction products were separated and characterised. Spherical particles of spinel zinc manganese oxide (ZnMn2O4) were isolated after crushing the reduced mass. Analysis (XRD) of the residual reduced mass showed that it consisted of several peaks of ZnMn2O4 along with peaks of SiO2 and uncombined ZnO and Mn3O4.

Keywords: Spinel ZnMn2O4, Primary cells, Zinc-carbon battery, Polypropylene, Microwave oven


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eISSN: 0855-210X