Crushing Lithium Batteries in Ionic Liquid Redox Solution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lithium-ion battery recycling methods face safety challenges due to the risk of explosive atmospheres and toxic fumes, requiring high-temperature treatments or controlled atmospheres that are difficult to industrialize and costly.
Innovation Solution
A process involving grinding lithium or sodium electrochemical generators in a solution of ionic liquid with an active redox species to discharge the batteries safely, avoiding the formation of explosive atmospheres and allowing for the extraction of lithium or sodium without water, heat, or controlled atmospheres.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional grinding methods are used on charged lithium-ion batteries, then the recycling process can proceed, but explosive atmospheres and ignitions occur due to sparks contacting charged cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by discharging the batteries through a redox reaction with iron(III) chloride solution before the grinding operation. This pre-treatment step removes the hazardous charge state, preventing explosions during subsequent mechanical processing while enabling safe recycling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an iron(III) chloride solution as an intermediary substance to transfer electrons from the lithium in charged batteries to iron ions. This chemical mediator enables safe discharge through a controlled redox reaction, converting hazardous chemical energy into a safe state before mechanical processing occurs.
2Reliability
If high-temperature treatments are used to safely process damaged batteries, then safety is improved, but energy consumption and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal/heat-based safety treatment with a chemical redox reaction using iron(III) chloride solution. This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature processing while achieving safe discharge of damaged batteries, significantly reducing energy consumption and simplifying the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameter from high temperature to ambient temperature chemical reaction. By using iron(III) chloride solution at room temperature to induce redox discharge, the process achieves safe handling of damaged cells without the energy-intensive thermal treatments required by conventional methods.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If controlled inert atmospheres are used during battery grinding, then explosion risks are reduced, but equipment complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hazard source by removing the charged state of the batteries through chemical discharge before grinding. By taking out the explosive potential through redox reaction with iron(III) chloride, the process eliminates the need for complex inert atmosphere systems while maintaining safety during mechanical processing.
4Productivity
If rapid discharge of lithium is achieved, then recycling efficiency improves, but heat generation and ignition risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses iron(III) chloride solution as a thermal mediator that absorbs the heat generated during rapid lithium discharge. The redox reaction between lithium and iron(III) ions proceeds quickly for high productivity, while the solution medium dissipates heat, preventing temperature buildup and ignition risks.
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 ensures safe and rapid discharge of lithium or sodium from batteries, reducing the risk of ignition and explosion, and simplifies the recycling process by eliminating the need for high-temperature treatments and controlled atmospheres, making it more economical and industrially viable.
Implementation Method 1
The active redox species makes it possible to discharge the electrochemical generator
Implementation Method 2
grinding an electrochemical generator in a solution containing an ionic liquid and an active redox species
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for crushing an electrochemical generator (10) comprising a negative electrode (20) containing lithium or sodium and a positive electrode (30), the method comprising a step, in which the electrochemical generator (10) is crushed in an ionic liquid solution (100) comprising an ionic liquid and a so-called oxidizing redox species that can be reduced on the negative electrode (20) so as to discharge the electrochemical generator (100).