New Industry Products

Better Performing, Less Toxic, Drop-In Replacement for Sulfuric Acid in Lead Batteries

August 28, 2018 by Paul Shepard

Tydrolyte LLC is introducing its patent-pending, novel, safe, and superior performing electrolyte solution for automotive, motive, and stationary storage lead battery manufacturers. Tydrolyte™ is a less toxic drop-in replacement for toxic sulfuric acid in lead batteries. A whitepaper with independent test results demonstrates the potential of this breakthrough material to increase battery life, battery efficiency and charge acceptance.

These are critical performance parameters needed for stop/start and mild hybrid vehicles as well as other lead battery applications. Tydrolyte will be at the 16th European Lead Battery Conference and Exhibition Sept. 4-7 in Vienna, Austria and at The Battery Show Sept. 11-14 in Novi, Michigan

“Tydrolyte is a novel innovative chemistry and a promising new approach to advancing lead batteries. It eliminates the drawbacks of handling sulfuric acid including safety, storage, disposal and insurance. Even more importantly, initial tests demonstrate that it may improve some critical performance parameters,” said Paul Bundschuh, CEO Tydrolyte LLC.

“Another benefit is that as a drop-in replacement the new electrolyte doesn’t require any change in existing paste recipes, production technology, or equipment, so battery manufacturers can switch to it easily,” added Bundschuh.

The lead–acid battery consisting of lead, lead oxide, and a sulfuric acid electrolyte was invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté and is the oldest type of rechargeable battery. Lead batteries have been and continue to be the most popular rechargeable battery with over 400GWh shipped annually according to market research firm Avicenne Energy. This is equivalent to over 400 giga-factories of established capacity spread throughout world.

“In spite of its historic success, many aspects of lead battery chemistry are not fully understood, and this provides a significant opportunity to further enhance the performance of world’s most popular rechargeable battery technology” stated Dr. Boris Monahov, PhD, program manager at the Advanced Lead-Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC).

“We are delighted to welcome Tydrolyte into membership of the ALABC, and strongly support companies such as Tydrolyte in pursuing innovative new solutions to the challenge of improving lead battery performance. There is a bright future for the lead battery, but it is essential that the industry continues to drive innovation to meet future market requirements. We look forward to working with Tydrolyte in the future,” Dr. Monahov concluded.

Lead batteries are one of the world’s most environmentally sustainable industrial products. 100% of lead battery material is recyclable, and in the U.S. and Western Europe, 99% of lead batteries are recycled, achieving the designation of the world’s most recycled product. The entire lead battery circular economy including manufacturing, consumer product, and post-consumer recycling is accomplished with minimal human exposure to lead materials.