Michael Rowley

Matthew Scheffler
Kyle Livelsberger
Cameron Curley
Daniel Dudas

Changing the
Battery

AA Batteries

- A diagram of a simple
battery.

Life Cycle Of Batteries

-

Starts at a mine, extracting materials needed.

Refined to make material usable.
Each material is manufactured into its individual parts.
Shipped out, and used in products.
Most thrown away when done, instead of disposing of them properly.
Takes 100 years to decompose.

100 years to decompose

AA Batteries and the Environment

-AA batteries contain an alkali compound, which is harmful for the environment.
-Normally, AA batteries are supposed to be sent specially to a recycling facility,
however, most people throw them out.
-The combined effect of the pollutants in batteries is bad for the environment. In 2001,
almost 508 million batteries were used in California alone, of which .5-.6% were
recycled.
- In addition, AA batteries have other chemicals that can leak into the soil, which can go
into plants,, and animals, and eventually into humans.
- The battery acid/alkali in batteries is strong enough to burn holes in things, even
human skin, and plant life.

Effects of sulphuric acid on things

This is a sponge that has been introduced to sulfuric acid. A few drops
melted the sponge and turned it to a brown-colored goo. The effects of
sulfuric acid on skin were deemed too graphic to be shown in this
presentation. This is roughly similar to what contact with the alkaline
compound present in AA batteries would do.

Our Product
-Our product is a battery that can be reused.
-This battery can be screwed and unscrewed, allowing the charge-holding liquid
inside it to be replaced whenever the battery runs out of charge.
-For example, if your battery for your TV remote runs out, instead of replacing the
battery, you can replace the acid cartridge, saving the metal that would otherwise
be used for a battery.
- Powered by natural acids, and chemicals, like lemon juice.

Why our product is better?

Our product is both reusable, more easily recyclable, and does not have the same
dangerous materials inside it that regular AA batteries have. In addition, our
product does not carry the same inherent risks during production, for example
sulfuric acid. Our battery uses natural acids, like lemon juice.
Our product reduces the need for factories, that make the metal cases for
batteries.

Prototype
Batteries, specifically AA
batteries, are made with an
alkali compound that is
similar in many ways to
sulfuric acid, but houses a
few unique differences.

How we will achieve our goals?

-Suppliers:-Standard battery suppliers, such as BASF Catalysts, as well as certain
recycling facilities.
Motivation-Our consumers are motivated to buy our product because, in the long
run, our product is cheaper, due to the reduction in labor costs, raw material costs,
and shipping costs, making the re-usable battery cheaper to produce.

Sources

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/battery_statistics
http://science.jrank.org/kids/pages/232/All-in-Circuit.html
https://www.nema.org/Policy/Environmental-Stewardship/Documents/NEMA
BatteryBrochure2.pdf
http://www.frost.com/sublib/display-market-insight-top.do?id=20759887
https://prezi.com/7slt62vzcdsr/product-lifecycle-aa-battery/
https://youtu.be/zZKp_jFxQJc