ABSTRACT
Batteries are a compact and reliable energy storage device that stores electrical energy in the form of chemical energy and converts that energy into electricity. They are used abundantly in electronic equipment. Various types of batteries are used widely, which include lithium-ion batteries, nickel–cadmium (Ni–Cd) batteries, nickel–metal hydride batteries, zinc–manganese (Zn–Mn) batteries, silver oxide batteries, etc. After their end of life, these batteries are discarded as waste, and leakage of heavy metals into the environment from these batteries is a major issue due to the probable harm to humans as well as to nature. Recycling of batteries is advantageous to the environment in terms of both retrieving metals and avoiding the production of virgin metals. Moreover, it is financially remarkable as compared with disposal. Both physical and chemical methods are used for recycling batteries but they do have some disadvantages. This chapter proposes various dimensions of metal recovery from energy storage wastes such as batteries, button cells, etc. using biohydrometallurgical methods.
