Scrubber system for removing carbon dioxide from a metal-air or fuel cell battery

A method for maximizing the effective life and utilization of CO.sub.2 -absorbent material in a scrubber system for removing carbon dioxide from an air inflow to a metal-air battery or fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing, in such a battery, a housing including a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a plurality of gas-permeable containers supported in series across the flow path of gas entering said inlet and exiting said outlet;
• each of said containers containing a CO.sub.2 -absorbent material and being individually independently removable from said series;
• and
• flowing gas containing CO.sub.2 into said gas inlet, through said CO.sub.2 -absorbent material in each of said plurality of containers, and out of said outlet,
• wherein, after a utilization of the system, a first container closest to said gas inlet is removed from said series and a second container from said series is repositioned in the place of said first container and spent CO.sub.2 -absorbent material from said first container is regenerated for reuse in said scrubber system, said regeneration including at least periodically removing accumulated Group 1a metal carbonate deposits.