In the secondary lead industry, battery scrap and other lead bearing materials are the main raw materials. A battery has an average life of 27 months and 80 percent of battery scrap (scrap batteries) is remelted, This unfortunately not being homogenous for the following reasons :

Different types of batteries

• Car batteries

• Stationary batteries

• Traction batteries

Various types of lead battery components

• Casing which can be hard rubber, plastic, polypropylene, glass and sheet metal

• Grid metals containing Pb-Sb alloy, Pb-Sb-Sn alloy posts and connectors

• Sulphuric acid

• Separators containing generally PVC, cellulose, and fiberglass

There are few proven methods for the recovery of lead from this type of non-homogenious scrap.