Other

Hulico LLC

Eco-bat Indiana, LLC

Sloop, Steven E.

Steven E Sloop

Robert Parker

Lauren E Crandon

Marshall Allen

Examples are disclosed that relate to methods and reactors for recycling a positive electrode material of a lithium-ion battery. One example provides a method of recycling a positive electrode material of a lithium-ion battery. The positive electrode material comprises a metal m having a n+ oxidation state (m). A reaction mixture is formed comprising the positive electrode material, an oxidizing agent, and lithium ions. The positive electrode material is electrochemically replenished with lithium via electrochemical reduction of the lithium ions while maintaining the n+ oxidation state of the metal m in the positive electrode material via the oxidizing agent.

Electrochemically recycling a lithium-ion battery

Examples are disclosed of methods to recycle coated positive-electrode material of a lithium-ion battery. One example provides a method including relithiating the coated positive-electrode material in a solution comprising lithium ions, and after relithiating, separating the coated positive-electrode material from the solution. In some examples, coated positive-electrode materials may be reinstated using lower process temperatures than uncoated positive-electrode material.

Recycling of coated electrode materials

Examples are disclosed of methods to deactivate a lithium-containing battery. One example provides a method for discharging a lithium-containing battery, the method comprising adding the lithium-containing battery to a vessel, adding an oxidizing fluid to the vessel, adding carbon dioxide to the vessel, pressurizing the vessel, heating the vessel to form lithium carbonate within the lithium-containing battery, reducing heat and pressure in the vessel, and removing the battery from the vessel.

Battery deactivation

Examples are disclosed of methods to recycle positive-electrode material of a lithium-ion battery. One example provides a method including relithiating the positive-electrode material in a solution comprising lithium ions and an oxidizing agent, and after relithiating, separating the positive-electrode material from the solution.

Relithiation in oxidizing conditions

Examples are disclosed herein that relate to identifying batteries of different chemistries such as in a battery recycling stream. One example provides a method for differentiating between batteries of different chemistries, the method comprising determining an expected mass of a sample of one or more batteries based upon an expected chemistry of the sample of one or more batteries, weighing the sample of one or more batteries to determine a sample mass, comparing the sample mass to the expected mass, and if the sample mass does not match the expected mass within a threshold range, then determining that the sample contains one or more batteries of a different chemistry than the expected chemistry.

Distinguishing batteries in a recycling stream

Examples are disclosed of methods to recycle positive-electrode material of a lithium-ion battery. In one example, the positive-electrode material is heated under pressure in a concentrated lithium hydroxide solution. After heating, the positive-electrode material is separated from the concentrated lithium hydroxide solution. After separating, the positive electrode material is rinsed in a basic liquid. After rinsing, the positive-electrode material is dried and sintered.

Recycling positive-electrode material of a lithium-ion battery

Embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to recycling and refurbishing battery electrode materials. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method comprising obtaining a quantity of spent electrode material, reacting the spent electrode material with an aqueous lithium solution in an autoclave while heating the spent electrode material and the aqueous lithium solution to form a hydrothermally reacted spent electrode material, removing the hydrothermally reacted spent electrode material from the aqueous lithium solution, and sintering the hydrothermally reacted spent material to form a recycled electrode material.

Recycling and reconditioning of battery electrode materials

Methods for making a recycled or refurbished electrode material for an energy-storage device are provided. One example method comprises harvesting a lithium-deficient electrode material from a recycling or waste stream, and replenishing at least some lithium in the lithium-deficient electrode material. A second example method comprises breeching an enclosure of a cell of an energy storage device, replenishing at least some lithium in a lithium-deficient electrode material of the cell, and sealing the enclosure of the cell.

Reintroduction of lithium into recycled battery materials

Embodiments are disclosed that relate to devices for discharging batteries. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a battery discharge device including a positive battery contact for forming an electrical contact with a positive battery terminal of a battery, a negative battery contact for forming an electrical contact with a negative battery terminal of the battery, and a battery discharge indicator including a resistive heating material in electrical communication with the positive battery contact and with the negative battery contact, and also including a reversible thermochromic indicator in thermal communication with the resistive heating material.

Discharging of batteries

Embodiments related to recycling alkaline batteries are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, a method for recycling a battery having a basic electrolyte comprises rupturing the battery under anaerobic conditions and flooding the interior of the battery with carbon dioxide in an anaerobic chamber.

Recycling batteries having basic electrolytes

A method of refurbishing a lithium-containing energy storage and/or conversion device is disclosed, wherein the energy storage and/or conversion device includes electrodes and an electrolyte, and wherein the method includes substantially removing the electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device, substantially removing waste products from surfaces of the electrodes, and adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the energy storage and/or conversion device.

System and method for processing an end-of-life or reduced performance energy storage and/or conversion device using a supercritical fluid

A method of recycling a lithium-containing energy storage device including an electrolyte is provided. The method includes placing the storage device in an extraction vessel, sealing the extraction vessel, adding a fluid containing COas a primary component to the extraction vessel under such conditions that the COis in a supercritical phase, dissolving the electrolyte in the fluid, transferring the fluid to a recovery vessel and recovering the electrolyte from the fluid in the recovery vessel. Methods of refurbishing lithium-containing energy storage and conversion devices are also disclosed.

System and method for removing an electrolyte from an energy storage and/or conversion device using a supercritical fluid

A system and method of removing an electrolyte from energy storage and conversion devices using a supercritical fluid are provided. The method includes placing a selected device in a container, adding a fluid to the container, adjusting at least one of a temperature and a pressure of the fluid in the container to form the supercritical fluid from the fluid in the container, exposing the supercritical fluid to the electrolyte, and removing the supercritical fluid from the container, wherein removal of the supercritical fluid causes removal of the electrolyte from the container.

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Bend, OR, United States of America

Steven E Sloop