English abstract
Worldwide, consumers prefer using single-used primary batteries over rechargeable
secondary batteries, as they are maintenance-free and low-cost. In Oman, primary data on
the primary batteries' consumption rate is not available as well as the regulations related to
the management. This study is considered the first study in Oman, which is mainly focused
on three main aspects, the assessment of primary batteries consumption, their waste
management, and investigating their environmental impact in the landfills.
The area of the study was done at Wilayat A' Seeb in Muscat Governorate for three sources
namely households, educational institutions, and other institutions. Spent primary batteries
were collected from the three sources purposely to investigate the types of batteries consumed
within these sources. Special boxes designed for the collection were distributed in 22
educational institutions, 2 hospitals, 2 public service institutions, and 2 military
establishments to collect their spent batteries within 3 – 4 months. Approximately 83 Kg of
battery waste was collected from the sources with 3294 units of batteries. Alkaline batteries
were found to have the highest percentage (60.8%), followed by Zinc-carbon batteries with
a percentage of 34.4%. Approximately 60% of the alkaline batteries were collected from the
other institutions alone.
The estimation of the batteries' consumption, their waste management, and consumer
awareness toward their environmental impact was investigated through a survey specified
for each source located at Wilayat A' Seeb. Approximately 400 respondents from
households, and 69 respondents from educational institutions, 33 respondents from other
institutions participated in the survey. The survey results showed that alkaline batteries are
more preferably used in other institutions followed by educational institutions, and then in
households with 82%, 74%, and 62% respectively. On the other hand, Zinc-carbon batteries
were more consumed compared to other sources by 28%. The study also revealed that higher
education institutions and private schools were the large consumers with a purchase cost of
more than 100 OMR per year, by 60% and 40%, respectively. It was also found that about
55% of the health sector consumes more than 300 batteries during the year, at a purchase cost
of 100-200 OMR. However, more than 94% of households, and about 60% of institutions,
used to dispose of battery waste with MSW. While the results also showed a quite good
percentage of spent batteries collected in recycling bins in other institutions and educational
institutions by 18.2% and 8.7% respectively. The survey's results also indicated that most of
the households' respondents were not sufficiently aware of the environmental impact of
battery waste may pose, while laboratory technicians in educational institutions and
maintenance and support staff in other institutions were more aware compared to other
professionals.
The environmental impact of dumping battery waste in the landfill was investigated by
simulating the landfill in a column experiment which mainly relied on the interaction between
the infiltrate input and the solid waste inside the column. By using three types of treatments,
100% battery, 100% MSW, and Mixed (95% MSW & 5% battery), results showed the release
of Zn was 100% battery > Mixed > 100% MSW, which eventually proved the impact of
mixing battery waste with MSW in the landfill. The effect of different pH and volume of the
input added was investigated on the release of Zn metal. The results showed that leachate
generated with acidic input (pH4) was lower than neutral input (pH7). Results also showed
that the acidic input lowered the pH of generated leachate, hence lowering the Zn
concentration. On the other hand, leachate generated from neutral input was found with
higher Zn concentration, and with higher volume input (200 ml / 5 days), Zn concentration
was increased more at both 100% battery and mixed columns.
The results of this research can give a general view of the extent of battery consumption in
Oman, and thus the amount of waste generated can be estimated accordingly. More studies
on the estimation of battery waste generation are highly recommended to help the decision makers make the right regulations and policies of battery waste management suitable to be
applied in Oman.
