The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 23, 2014
Filed:
Sep. 24, 2010
Karel Verscheure, Vichte, BE;
Mieke Campforts, Heverlee, BE;
Maurits Van Camp, Mortsel, BE;
Umlcore, Brussels, BE;
Abstract
The invention concerns a recycling process for recovery of metals from Li-ion batteries. More particularly, an autogeneous process is disclosed for the recovery of Co from Li-ion batteries also containing Al and C, comprising the steps of: —providing a bath furnace equipped with means for 02 injection; —providing a metallurgical charge comprising CaO as a slag former, and Li-ion batteries; —feeding said metallurgical charge to the furnace while injecting O2, whereby at least part of the Co is reduced and collected in a metallic phase; —separating the slag from the metallic phase by tapping; characterized in that the fraction of Li-ion batteries, expressed as weight % of the metallurgical charge, is at least equal to 153%−3.5 (Al %+0.6 C %), Al % and C % being the weight % of Al and C in the batteries, thereby enabling to operate the smelt reduction process in autogeneous conditions. This process possesses advantages over the state of the art process using a shaft furnace, having a large tolerance towards the morphology of the charge, high energy efficiency, and simplified off-gas cleaning requirements.