Electrode Remediation by Rinsing and Mechanical Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for recycling electrochemical cell electrodes are economically and environmentally inefficient due to the difficulty in mechanically separating components, often requiring harsh chemical treatments that damage current collectors and result in low yields of reusable materials.
Innovation Solution
A method for remediation of electrochemical cell electrodes involves rinsing and mechanically separating semi-solid electrode materials from current collectors, eliminating the need for binders and harsh chemicals, allowing for the recovery of active materials and conductive carbon with reduced energy input and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If harsh chemical treatments are used to separate electrode components, then separation effectiveness is improved, but current collector damage and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the binder component from the electrode coating formulation, creating a binder-free electrode structure. This eliminates the need for harsh chemical treatments to separate binder from active materials during recycling, as the binder-free structure allows for direct mechanical separation of electrode components while preserving the current collector.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces chemical separation methods with mechanical separation techniques. By eliminating the binder that requires chemical dissolution for separation, the electrode components can be mechanically separated through simple processes like scraping or delamination, substituting harmful chemical treatments with benign mechanical methods.
2Strength
If conventional electrode coatings with binders are used, then mechanical integrity is improved, but separation difficulty and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The binder component is extracted and removed from the electrode coating formulation. This eliminates the complex multi-step chemical separation process required to remove binders, simplifying the recycling process while maintaining electrode integrity through alternative binding mechanisms or direct mechanical attachment to the current collector.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating electrodes without uniform binder distribution throughout. Instead, the electrode structure relies on local mechanical adhesion or specific localized binding at the current collector interface, eliminating the need for pervasive binder materials that complicate separation processes.
3Loss of substance
If high power electrolysis-based recovery is used, then metal recovery is improved, but energy consumption and equipment investment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces energy-intensive electrolysis-based metal recovery with mechanical separation methods. By designing electrodes without binders and with simplified structures, metal components can be mechanically separated and recovered through physical processes rather than requiring high-power electrochemical dissolution and reprecipitation cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the electrode structure by eliminating binders and adjusting composition to facilitate low-energy separation. This allows metal recovery through simple mechanical means rather than high-energy electrolysis, dramatically reducing power consumption while maintaining effective metal recovery.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein relate generally to methods for the remediation of electrochemical cell electrodes. In some embodiments, a method includes obtaining an electrode material. At least a portion of the electrode material is rinsed to remove a residue therefrom. The electrode material is separated into constituents for reuse.