Phone battery parts purify water in new process
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Researchers in Brazil transformed discarded components from cellphone batteries into a material capable of removing a toxic dye from water.
Eric M. Garcia and his team at the Federal University of São João del-Rei took graphite from used batteries and cleaned it with hydrochloric acid. This simple process removed metal contaminants without harming the graphite’s structure, creating an effective water filter. The team focused on methylene blue, a common dye that pollutes waterways by blocking sunlight and harming aquatic life.
They found that the recycled graphite successfully adsorbed, or trapped, the dye molecules, with performance increasing at higher pH levels. Tests showed the material could remove up to 7.25 milligrams of dye per gram of graphite. Importantly, the researchers demonstrated the material’s durability. After repeated use and cleaning, the graphite retained over 90 percent of its ability to remove the dye.
This suggests the material could be reused many times, offering a sustainable solution to both battery waste and water pollution. The team notes that further research is needed to test the material in real-world conditions and assess its long-term environmental impact.
