Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

The liquid spilled from the battery can cause serious danger, so you must be careful when performing cleaning operations. It is extremely important to determine the battery type before cleaning to avoid dangerous chemical reactions. If the battery fails while it is in a device, you will need to either clean the adapter or replace it with a new one.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Determining the battery type

1. 

   Hand and face protection. Battery fluid may contain caustic chemicals that can irritate skin, lungs and eyes. Remember to always wear rubber, nitrile, or latex gloves before handling any leaking battery or battery discharge. Wearing goggles or a protective mask is very important when handling car batteries or lithium batteries. Do this in a well-ventilated area and avoid the direction of the wind blowing in your face.
   • If you feel burning in your eyes or on your skin, or if acid gets on you, stop cleaning and remove any contaminated clothing. Wash skin under lukewarm running water for at least 30 minutes.
   • Acid spilled from batteries like car batteries is often much more dangerous than the liquid coming out of alkaline batteries.

2. 

   
   
   Put the battery in two plastic bags. For small batteries, you will use a clear plastic bag so you can determine the battery type before proceeding. With car batteries and other large batteries, you would put them in two plastic bags made of polyethylene with a thickness of 6 mm or more. Immediately tie up or seal the top of the bag.

3. 

   
   
   Determine the battery type. Batteries for cars and other car engines are usually lead acid. Small batteries attached to electrical equipment are often varied; therefore, you should carefully read the label for exact identification. The most common small batteries are alkaline, lithium, Ni-Cd (nickel cadmium) and lead acid.
   • It would be inaccurate to determine the battery type only by size and shape.

4. 

   
   
   Guess battery type based on voltage. If the only information you can see is the voltage (symbol “V”), you can make a guess based on practical knowledge: alkaline batteries have voltages that are multiples of 1.5V. The voltage of a lithium battery can vary, but is usually indicated in multiples of 3 to 3.7V. Ni-Cd batteries have voltages that are multiple of 1.2V and lead acid batteries are usually multiples of 2V.

5. 

   Follow the instructions in the next section. Note that you just Follow the instructions for your battery type. Using chemicals that are not suitable for the treatment of battery acid can cause an explosion.
   • See the end of the instructions below for how to dispose of the battery and clean the electrical contact.
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Part 2 of 2: Clean acid spilled from the battery

1. 

   Use baking soda to neutralize lead or Ni-Cd acid solutions. These batteries can leak strong acids that corrode clothing, carpet, or sometimes even metal. You should treat this solution with gloves and a protective mask, and pour plenty of baking soda over the acid until the baking soda no longer bubbles or bubbles. Clean up any leaks using a thick mixture of baking soda and water.
   • In addition, you need to add baking soda to a damaged battery bag.

2. 

   Clean the solution that comes out of akaline batteries with mild acids commonly used in the home. With an alkaline battery, you will dip a cotton swab in vinegar or lemon juice and dot to neutralize the amount of solution draining from the battery. Use an old toothbrush dipped in the mild acid solution above to scrub off any acid draining from a dry battery. Water can cause a corrosive reaction, so just make the towel slightly damp to wipe off the acid. Repeat the operation until the leak is removed, then let the device dry for a few hours.

3. 

   Wipe off any acid flowing from the lithium battery with water. With the lithium batteries commonly used in phones or "round" batteries, it's a good idea to immediately place the battery bag in a rigid, sealed container to avoid fire or explosion. Any electrical equipment contaminated with acid solutions is no longer safe to use. Immediately dispose of the appliance and clean the acid solution with water and do not add anything else.

4. 

   Battery disposal. You can throw alkaline batteries in your regular trash, but most batteries are recycled according to regulations. See the Vietnam Recycling page for more information on electronic battery collection and recycling in Ho Chi Minh City.
   • Some battery manufacturers may offer to exchange old batteries for a new one for free or at a discount.

5. 

   Clean the power adapter (optional). If a battery leaks while in the device, the device's electrical contacts need to be cleaned in order to be used safely. Use a wood or plastic tree to scrape off any remaining acid and use a slightly damp paper towel to wipe it off, then throw away the tissue immediately. If the contacts are corroded, deformed, or discolored, you can abrade with sandpaper or a metal file, but note that you may still need to replace the adapter. advertisement

Advice

• To avoid encountering this problem in the future, you should apply the following principles:
  • Do not mix batteries of different brands in the same device.
  • Remove the battery when you are not using the device.
  • Make sure the electrical device is completely dry before inserting a new battery.
• If the solar batteries leak, you can reuse them if they are still clean and not damaged. Be sure to check for leaks with a metal rod. Dispose of the battery if any damage is noticed.

Warning

• If the battery leaks a large amount of acid (a few liters), you should seek assistance from the fire brigade. In this case, call the fire brigade and ask everyone to stay away from the battery leak area.