Battery Member Recycling via High-Temperature Flotation Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for recycling lithium-ion battery components face challenges in achieving high collection rates for carbon components while minimizing the loss rate of metal components, particularly in achieving a metal component loss rate of 5% or less.
Innovation Solution
A processing method involving a heating step at 850° C. or more to reduce metal components in the battery to a metal simple substance, followed by a separating step using a foaming agent and scavenger in a slurry to enhance the separation of metal and carbon components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If flotation mineral beneficiation is performed after filtering and sintering at 500°C to separate positive electrode active material and graphite, then the carbon component collection rate is improved (98% or more), but the metal component loss rate increases (8%)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sintering temperature parameter from the conventional 500°C to 850°C or higher. This temperature parameter change fundamentally alters the state of metal components, reducing them to metal simple substances with higher specific gravity, thereby improving both separation efficiency and metal component recovery while maintaining high carbon collection rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary reduction of metal components to metal simple substances through high-temperature sintering before the flotation separation process. This preliminary action ensures that metal components are in an optimal state for separation, preventing their loss during subsequent flotation operations while maintaining high carbon collection efficiency
2Manufacturing precision
If sintering temperature is increased to 850°C or more to reduce metal components to metal simple substance, then the precipitability and separativeness of metal components are improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of high energy consumption into a beneficial outcome. The high-temperature sintering process, while energy-intensive, simultaneously achieves multiple benefits: reducing metal components to metal simple substances, removing organic substances and electrolytes, and improving separation precision. The energy input is transformed into valuable chemical and physical changes that enable efficient resource recovery
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method improves the precipitability and separativeness of metal and carbon components, resulting in a higher collection rate of carbon components and a lower loss rate of metal components, effectively addressing the recycling challenges.
Implementation Method 1
heating the collection target at 850° C. or more, the metal component in the collection target is reduced to a state of a metal simple substance
Implementation Method 2
adding a foaming agent and a scavenger to a slurry including the collection target after the heating step and separating a metal component and a carbon component
Data Source
AI summary
A processing method disclosed herein includes a heating step of heating at 850° C. or more, a collection target including a positive electrode containing at least a lithium-transition metal complex oxide with a layer structure and a negative electrode containing a carbon material, and a separating step of adding a foaming agent and a scavenger to a slurry including the collection target after the heating step and separating a metal component and a carbon component included in the collection target.