Sciencemadness Discussion Board

MnO2 from dead battery

Random - 2-7-2010 at 05:53

Can I get MnO2 from dead carbon-zinc battery or I need newly bought batteries?

I will purify MnO2 with water to dissolve ammonium chloride then I will decant mno2.

[Edited on 2-7-2010 by Random]

Anders Hoveland - 2-7-2010 at 07:08

What about buying pyrolusite ore? This would be cheaper/
Or dissolve scrap manganese steel in acid, then use bleach.
A battery is a really poor and messy source.

The WiZard is In - 2-7-2010 at 07:28

Quote: Originally posted by Random  
Can I get MnO2 from dead carbon-zinc battery or I need newly bought batteries?

I will purify MnO2 with water to dissolve ammonium chloride then I will decant mno2.

[Edited on 2-7-2010 by Random]



----------
There is no higher or lower knowledge,
but one only, flowing out of experimentation.
Leonardo de

blogfast25 - 3-7-2010 at 06:57

Quote: Originally posted by Random  
Can I get MnO2 from dead carbon-zinc battery or I need newly bought batteries?

I will purify MnO2 with water to dissolve ammonium chloride then I will decant mno2.

[Edited on 2-7-2010 by Random]


Random, search this board: this has been discussed numerous times here and entire procedures have been published on this board re. batteries and MnO2, notably by honourable member 'DerAlte'.

The problem is that the battery gunge contains not only MnO2 and some salts but also very considerable quantities (30+ %) of very fine graphite. Separating the black MnO2 from the equally black graphite requires dissolving the gunge in strong HCl and that process generates much chlorine.:o Nothing a backyard chemist can't handle but you need to be aware of it to handle it...

Look it up before you do anything else!

Spent batteries are just fine.

[Edited on 3-7-2010 by blogfast25]

blogfast25 - 3-7-2010 at 07:05

Quote: Originally posted by Anders Hoveland  

A battery is a really poor and messy source.


You can buy generally poor grade MnO2 from pottery stores.

Battery MnO2, with a bit of experience, is a neat little satisfying procedure. My home made is still the best on my shelf :)

Random - 3-7-2010 at 14:11

Quote: Originally posted by blogfast25  
Quote: Originally posted by Random  
Can I get MnO2 from dead carbon-zinc battery or I need newly bought batteries?

I will purify MnO2 with water to dissolve ammonium chloride then I will decant mno2.

[Edited on 2-7-2010 by Random]


Random, search this board: this has been discussed numerous times here and entire procedures have been published on this board re. batteries and MnO2, notably by honourable member 'DerAlte'.

The problem is that the battery gunge contains not only MnO2 and some salts but also very considerable quantities (30+ %) of very fine graphite. Separating the black MnO2 from the equally black graphite requires dissolving the gunge in strong HCl and that process generates much chlorine.:o Nothing a backyard chemist can't handle but you need to be aware of it to handle it...

Look it up before you do anything else!

Spent batteries are just fine.

[Edited on 3-7-2010 by blogfast25]


Thanks for the thread suggestions, I will read them. I searched the board but didn't find anything. But, in the dead battery is Mn2O3 as I see from wikipedia, not MnO2 :(

JohnWW - 3-7-2010 at 14:31

MnO2 is added to precast concrete pavers and bricks or blocks to give them a dark gray color. So if you want some MnO2, you could try finding a precast concrete company that makes such concrete pavers and bricks.

(They also add Fe2O3 (hematite) to concrete mixes to impart a dark orange or terracotta or bright red color, FeO(OH) (limonite) and/or CdS to give a yellow color, basic Cu(II) carbonate (malachite) to give a green color. I am not sure what they could use for a blue color, but possibilities would be another basic Cu(II) carbonate (azurite), or CoO.).