1486738 Electrolytic recovery of metal from spent electrodes M GINATTA 7 Feb 1975 [25 July 1974 30 Dec 1974] 5265/75 Heading C7B [Also in Division H1] Metal, e.g. lead is extracted from electrodes of spent secondary electric storage batteries by recharging the spent batteries e.g. to reduce their PbSO 4 content, removing original electrolyte e.g. H 2 SO 4 from the recharged batteries, opening the battery containers to provide access to all electrodes, preferably washing the electrodes and battery containers with water and drying, immersing the batteries in an electrolyte, e.g. an aqueous solution of sulphamate or acetate and sulphate so that all electrodes are simultaneously in contact with the electrolyte which is circulated inside and outside the batteries, each immersed battery being an electro-chemical system composed of a series of electronically connected positive and negative couples of electrodes all immersed in the same electrolyte, the natural discharge of which dissolves at least a portion of the metal e.g. as PbSP++/SP in the electrolyte. Each immersed battery may be completely discharged by connecting their poles. A voltage may be applied across the poles of each battery to force dissolution. Auxiliary anodes external to the batteries may be immersed in the electrolyte. Pb is electro-deposited on the cathodes and/or PbO 2 on the anodes.
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