Acid in batteries can be the miracle substance that can overcome one of the most pressing problems on the planet

People use a lot of things in their everyday lives, which become hazardous waste at the end of their useful lives. In many cases, it is not so easy to recycle them, despite the best intentions.

This is also the case with the acid in vehicle batteries, which is very difficult to recycle – at least it was until now. Now, however, researchers have discovered a new way to produce pure hydrogen fuel using spent battery acid.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK have presented a novel method of recycling plastic waste – it requires the acid extracted from batteries.

As the professionals a Joule explained in the scientific journal, 20-40 percent of car batteries are made up of acid. As this is highly corrosive, it is typically disposed of and neutralized. However, the researchers knew that these acids – primarily due to their corrosive properties – can effectively break down plastics as well.

https://hvg.hu/tudomany/20251227_muanyag-palack-hulladek-ujrahasznositas-kutatas-zoldenergia-hydrogen-termeles-uzemanyag

However, no inexpensive and scalable photocatalysts that could withstand these acids were available. To this end, researchers at the University of Cambridge set out to develop a photocatalyst that enhances these reactions under the influence of light and resists the damaging effects of acids.

According to the study, the team, after much trial and error, came up with a formula that creates a “closed-loop system” where one “waste stream” neutralizes the other, detailing the Gizmodo.

According to experts, battery acid is an “unexploited resource” that can be collected before disposal and used to break down plastic. In this way, the environmental burden associated with neutralization can be saved, and the acid can contribute to the production of pure hydrogen.

First, the reactor treats the plastic with acid, so it breaks down into easier-to-handle materials, such as ethylene glycol. This is often used for antifreeze and for the production of printing inks. Under the influence of sunlight, the photocatalyst further converts the resulting mixture into hydrogen and acetic acid.

https://hvg.hu/tudomany/20250703_nuklearis-reaktor-hydrogen-termelese-viz-elektromos-aram

The researchers also scrutinized the effectiveness of the method and found that the catalyst was able to remain active for 11 days without any significant reduction in performance.

It is important, however, that this will not soon become a usable method for breaking down plastic and utilizing battery acid – the researchers also emphasize that further experiments are necessary to ensure that these devices do not wear out over time. At least, not too fast.

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