Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC

John Klaehn

Christopher J Orme

Eric S Peterson

Michael G Jones

Alan Kevin Wertsching

Thomas A Luther

Mason K Harrup

Joshua S McNally

Tammy L Trowbridge

Frederick F Stewart

Jack D Law

Eric J Dufek

Aaron D Wilson

Dean R Peterman

Birendra Adhikari

Harry W Rollins

Seth W Snyder

David W Reed

Kevin L Gering

Tedd Edward Lister

Luis A Diaz Aldana

Richard D Tillotson

A method of recovering active materials from a rechargeable battery comprises placing an active material of a rechargeable battery in a cathode chamber comprising a cathode of an electrochemical cell comprising the cathode chamber, an anode chamber comprising an anode, and a membrane separating the cathode chamber from the anode chamber, contacting the active material in the cathode chamber with an electrolyte comprising an acid, ferric ions, and ferrous ions, and dissolving at least one of lithium and cobalt from the active material into the electrolyte. Related apparatuses for recovering metals from active materials of rechargeable batteries are also disclosed.

Methods of recovering active materials from rechargeable batteries, and related apparatuses

A method of treating a fluid comprises introducing a feed fluid stream comprising multiple materials to first side of a semi-permeable membrane. A draw fluid stream having a higher temperature than the feed fluid stream is introduced to second, opposing side of the semi-permeable membrane to form a thermal gradient across the semi-permeable membrane. One or more of the multiple materials of the feed fluid stream is drawn through the semi-permeable membrane and into the draw fluid stream via thermal gradient osmosis. A fluid treatment system and a thermal gradient osmosis apparatus are also described.

Methods of treating fluids using thermal gradient osmosis

A thermally reflective membrane apparatus comprises a housing structure, and a thermally reflective membrane contained within the housing structure. The thermally reflective membrane comprises a semipermeable structure, and a porous, thermally reflective structure physically contacting the semipermeable structure. The porous, thermally reflective structure comprises discrete thermally reflective particles, and a binder material coupling the discrete thermally reflective particles to one another and the semipermeable structure. A fluid treatment system and method of treating a fluid are also described.

Thermally reflective membrane apparatuses, and related fluid treatment systems and methods

A method of recovering a rare earth element. The method comprises dissolving a rare earth element magnetic material in a dissolution organic solvent and a &#x3b2;-diketone compound to form a dissolved rare earth element mixture. A rare earth element of the rare earth element magnetic material and the &#x3b2;-diketone compound are reacted to form a &#x3b2;-diketonate chelate complex and the dissolution organic solvent is removed. The &#x3b2;-diketonate chelate complex is removed using a separation organic solvent, and the &#x3b2;-diketonate chelate complex is recovered. Additional methods are also disclosed.

Methods of recovering rare earth elements

A phosphoranimine compound comprising a cationic portion bonded to a nitrogen atom of the phosphoranimine compound, a phosphorus atom bonded to the nitrogen atom, pendant groups bonded to the phosphorus atom, and a counterion. An electrolyte solution comprising at least one phosphoranimine compound is also disclosed, as is an energy storage device including the electrolyte solution.

Phosphoranimine compounds, electrolyte solutions including a phosphoranimine compound, and energy storage devices including same

An electrolyte solution comprising at least one phosphoranimine compound and a metal salt. The at least one phosphoranimine compound comprises a compound of the chemical structure where X is an organosilyl group or a tert-butyl group and each of R, R, and Ris independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, or an aryloxy group. An energy storage device including the electrolyte solution is also disclosed.

Electrolyte solutions including a phosphoranimine compound, and energy storage devices including same

Stable, high performance polymer compositions including polybenzimidazole (PBI) and a melamine-formaldehyde polymer, such as methylated, poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde), for forming structures such as films, fibers and bulky structures. The polymer compositions may be formed by combining polybenzimidazole with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form a precursor. The polybenzimidazole may be reacted and/or intertwined with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form the polymer composition. For example, a stable, free-standing film having a thickness of, for example, between about 5 &#x3bc;m and about 30 &#x3bc;m may be formed from the polymer composition. Such films may be used as gas separation membranes and may be submerged into water for extended periods without crazing and cracking. The polymer composition may also be used as a coating on substrates, such as metal and ceramics, or may be used for spinning fibers. Precursors for forming such polymer compositions are also disclosed.

Precursor polymer compositions comprising polybenzimidazole

Polymer compositions, polymer films and methods and precursors for forming same

A PBI compound includes imidazole nitrogens at least a portion of which are substituted with a moiety containing a carbonyl group, the substituted imidazole nitrogens being bonded to carbon of the carbonyl group. At least 85% of the nitrogens may be substituted. The carbonyl-containing moiety may include RCO&#x2014;, where R is alkoxy or haloalkyl. The PBI compound may exhibit a first temperature marking an onset of weight loss corresponding to reversion of the substituted PBI that is less than a second temperature marking an onset of decomposition of an otherwise identical PBI compound without the substituted moiety. The PBI compound may be included in separatory media. A substituted PBI synthesis method may include providing a parent PBI in a less than 5 wt % solvent solution. Substituting may use more than 5 equivalents in relation to the imidazole nitrogens to be substituted.

Polymeric medium

Polybenzimidazole compounds

Methods of separating actinides from lanthanides are disclosed. A regio-specific/stereo-specific dithiophosphinic acid having organic moieties is provided in an organic solvent that is then contacted with an acidic medium containing an actinide and a lanthanide. The method can extend to separating actinides from one another. Actinides are extracted as a complex with the dithiophosphinic acid. Separation compositions include an aqueous phase, an organic phase, dithiophosphinic acid, and at least one actinide. The compositions may include additional actinides and/or lanthanides. A method of producing a dithiophosphinic acid comprising at least two organic moieties selected from aromatics and alkyls, each moiety having at least one functional group is also disclosed. A source of sulfur is reacted with a halophosphine. An ammonium salt of the dithiophosphinic acid product is precipitated out of the reaction mixture. The precipitated salt is dissolved in ether. The ether is removed to yield the dithiophosphinic acid.

Actinide extraction methods

A PBI compound that includes imidazole nitrogens, at least a portion of which are substituted with an organic-inorganic hybrid moiety. At least 85% of the imidazole nitrogens may be substituted. The organic-inorganic hybrid moiety may be an organosilane moiety, for example, (R)MeSiCH&#x2014;, where R is selected from among methyl, phenyl, vinyl, and allyl. The PBI compound may exhibit similar thermal properties in comparison to the unsubstituted PBI. The PBI compound may exhibit a solubility in an organic solvent greater than the solubility of the unsubstituted PBI. The PBI compound may be included in separatory media. A substituted PBI synthesis method may include providing a parent PBI in a less than 5 wt % solvent solution. Substituting may occur at about room temperature and/or at about atmospheric pressure. Substituting may use at least five equivalents in relation to the imidazole nitrogens to be substituted or, preferably, about fifteen equivalents.

An extraction agent for the separation of trivalent actinides from lanthanides in an acidic media and a method for forming same are described, and wherein the methodology produces a stable regiospecific and/or stereospecific dithiophosphinic acid that can operate in an acidic media having a pH of less than about 7.

Method for forming an extraction agent for the separation of actinides from lanthanides

A PBI compound includes imidazole nitrogens at least a portion of which are substituted with an organic-inorganic hybrid moiety may be included in a separatory medium. At least 85% of the imidazole nitrogens may be substituted. The organic-inorganic hybrid moiety may be an organosilane moiety, for example, (R)MeSiCH&#x2014; where R is selected from among methyl, phenyl, vinyl, and allyl. The separatory medium may exhibit an H, Ar, N, O, CH, or COgas permeability greater than the gas permeability of a comparable separatory medium comprising the PBI compound without substitution. The separatory medium may further include an electronically conductive medium and/or an ionically conductive medium. The separatory medium may be used as a membrane (semi-permeable, permeable, and non-permeable), a barrier, an ion exchange media, a filter, a gas chromatography coating (such as stationary phase coating in affinity chromatography), etc.

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Idaho Falls, ID, United States of America

John Klaehn