What are spent lead-acid batteries (SLABs) and why are they hazardous?
Lead-acid batteries are secondary, wet cell batteries, meaning they can be recharged for many uses and they contain liquid. They are the most widely used rechargeable battery in the world. Lead-acid batteries are mainly used as starting, lighting, and ignition power batteries found in automobiles and other vehicles. Lead-acid batteries are typically composed of an outside plastic casing and six inner cells containing lead strips and positive and negative lead terminals. Each cell is made up of two lead frameworks, the positive plate being lead dioxide and the negative plate being spongy lead (a metallic lead in a high-surface-area porous structure). Each cell is filled with sulfuric acid as the electrolyte. When the battery is in use, the spongy lead, sulphuric acid, and lead dioxide react. Through this reaction, an electrical current is produced. Both electrodes are converted to lead sulfate, a process which is reversed during recharge. A rechargeable lead-acid battery is spent if it
