Rapid analysis on the heavy metal content of spent zinc–manganese batteries by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique was used to investigate the applicability for the rapid analysis on the heavy metals in spent Zn–Mn batteries. Besides the major elements carbon and zinc, a number of minor and trace elements, such as iron, manganese, vanadium, chromium, aluminum, silicon, calcium, copper, magnesium and lead were identified in the positive and negative electrode materials, and their concentrations were determined. It was found that the concentrations of heavy metals of vanadium, vanadium, manganese, zinc, iron and copper were high in the mixture of positive electrode material, while zinc and lead had high concentration in the negative electrode material. These heavy metals are of a great harm to the environment and human health.