A valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery cell, said battery being constructed of a material exhausting a catalyst poison which comprises hydrogen sulfide and said battery cell comprising: a sealed housing; a positive electrode positioned in the housing; a negative electrode positioned in the housing in spaced relationship from the positive electrode; an electrolyte in said housing in contact with said positive and negative electrodes (64, 66); a gas space within said housing in which oxygen and hydrogen gases collect; a pressure relief valve which allows gas to escape from the housing and which prevents oxygen gas from outside the housing from entering the housing to contact said negative electrode; and a device for combining gases within the battery cell, the device comprising: a catalyst container having a container wall and defining an Internal chamber; a catalyst arranged within said chamber, said catalyst capable of reacting oxygen gas and hydrogen gas to form water vapor; a micro-porous section having pores through which said oxygen gas and hydrogen gas can pass between an outside of said container and said Internal chamber, said gases containing said hydrogen sulfide which poisons said catalyst; and the device further comprising a catalyst poison fitter which is arranged to be in contact with at least a portion of said oxygen and hydrogen gases, that include said catalyst poison flowing from said outside of said container to said catalyst, in order to remove at least a portion of said hydrogen sulfide In said oxygen and hydrogen gases, wherein said poison filter comprises a metal salt. a sealed housing; a positive electrode positioned in the housing; a negative electrode positioned in the housing in spaced relationship from the positive electrode; an electrolyte in said housing in contact with said positive and negative electrodes (64, 66); a gas space within said housing in which oxygen and hydrogen gases collect; a pressure relief valve which allows gas to escape from the housing and which prevents oxygen gas from outside the housing from entering the housing to contact said negative electrode; and a device for combining gases within the battery cell, the device comprising: a catalyst container having a container wall and defining an Internal chamber; a catalyst arranged within said chamber, said catalyst capable of reacting oxygen gas and hydrogen gas to form water vapor; a micro-porous section having pores through which said oxygen gas and hydrogen gas can pass between an outside of said container and said Internal chamber, said gases containing said hydrogen sulfide which poisons said catalyst; and the device further comprising a catalyst poison fitter which is arranged to be in contact with at least a portion of said oxygen and hydrogen gases, that include said catalyst poison flowing from said outside of said container to said catalyst, in order to remove at least a portion of said hydrogen sulfide In said oxygen and hydrogen gases, wherein said poison filter comprises a metal salt. a catalyst container having a container wall and defining an Internal chamber; a catalyst arranged within said chamber, said catalyst capable of reacting oxygen gas and hydrogen gas to form water vapor; a micro-porous section having pores through which said oxygen gas and hydrogen gas can pass between an outside of said container and said Internal chamber, said gases containing said hydrogen sulfide which poisons said catalyst; and the device further comprising a catalyst poison fitter which is arranged to be in contact with at least a portion of said oxygen and hydrogen gases, that include said catalyst poison flowing from said outside of said container to said catalyst, in order to remove at least a portion of said hydrogen sulfide In said oxygen and hydrogen gases, wherein said poison filter comprises a metal salt.