Lithium Recovery from Battery Shredding Fluid Using Sorbent Desorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for recovering lithium from lithium-ion batteries are inefficient, as they often discard the protective fluid containing lithium ions after shredding, and the presence of foreign substances can impair the recovery process.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves shredding lithium-ion batteries in the presence of a protective fluid, followed by passing the fluid through a sorbent to bind and recover lithium ions, while using a sorbent that is resistant to damage from foreign substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the protective fluid is discarded after shredding, then the handling and processing complexity is reduced, but lithium recovery efficiency is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle by capturing lithium ions from the protective fluid that would otherwise be discarded. The method passes the protective fluid through a sorbent material that selectively binds lithium ions, then desorbs them using a desorption fluid, thereby recovering valuable lithium from the waste stream and converting it into a recoverable product.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a sorbent material as an intermediary substance to facilitate lithium recovery. The sorbent temporarily binds lithium ions from the protective fluid, enabling separation and concentration of lithium from other substances. This intermediary approach allows efficient lithium extraction without requiring direct complex processing of the entire protective fluid mixture.
2Reliability
If a protective fluid is used during shredding, then fire safety is improved, but lithium recovery efficiency deteriorates due to foreign substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of foreign substances in the protective fluid into a beneficial separation process. Instead of allowing foreign substances to interfere with lithium recovery, the method uses the sorbent's selective binding capability to separate lithium ions from foreign substances, transforming the contamination problem into an efficient purification and recovery opportunity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using a sorbent material with specific selective binding properties that target lithium ions while excluding other substances. The sorbent's localized chemical affinity for lithium allows it to selectively capture lithium from the complex protective fluid mixture, enabling efficient separation despite the presence of foreign substances.
3Productivity
If the protective fluid is processed through a sorbent, then lithium recovery efficiency is improved, but the presence of foreign substances may damage the sorbent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by separating the protective fluid into valuable lithium ions (recovered) and foreign substances (discarded or treated separately). The sorbent selectively binds lithium ions while allowing foreign substances to pass through or be removed, enabling the system to tolerate the presence of foreign substances without compromising sorbent integrity or recovery efficiency.
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 significantly increases the efficiency of lithium recovery from lithium-ion batteries by effectively utilizing the protective fluid to capture lithium ions, with minimal impairment from foreign substances, and producing a desorption fluid enriched with lithium ions.
Implementation Method 1
The released substances include lithium ions and other substances... The protective fluid is therefore enriched with lithium ions
Implementation Method 2
passing the protective fluid through a sorbent, wherein lithium ions contained in the protective fluid are bound by the sorbent
Implementation Method 3
passing a desorption fluid through the sorbent enriched with lithium ions, wherein lithium ions are desorbed from the sorbent by the desorption fluid
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for recovering lithium during the preparation of the recycling of lithium-ion batteries, comprising: carrying out a shredding process, wherein at least one lithium-ion battery is mechanically shredded into fragments in the presence of a protective fluid that is in contact with the lithium-ion battery, following the shredding process, passing the protective fluid through a sorbent, wherein lithium ions contained in the protective fluid are bound by the sorbent, and a sorbent enriched with lithium ions is obtained, and passing a desorption fluid through the sorbent enriched with lithium ions, wherein lithium ions are desorbed from the sorbent by the desorption fluid, and a desorption fluid enriched with lithium ions is obtained.