Magnetic Field Separation of Li-Ion Battery Metals Without Reagents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithium-ion battery recycling methods generate significant chemical waste and environmental hazards due to the use of toxic chemicals for separating valuable metals like lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt, and there is a lack of effective methods for magnetic separation of these metals from one another.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing magnetic field gradients to separate mixed metals from lithium-ion batteries without chemical reagents, leveraging the differing magnetic susceptibilities of lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt ions to achieve separation through a process involving multiple magnetic field strengths applied to a leachate solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If chemical reagents are used to separate metals from batteries, then metal separation can be achieved, but significant chemical waste and environmental hazards are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical separation methods with magnetic field-based separation. A magnetic field gradient is applied to the leachate solution containing metal ions, causing metals with different magnetic susceptibilities (particularly ferromagnetic metals like nickel and cobalt) to separate from non-magnetic metals like lithium and manganese, eliminating the need for additional chemical reagents and reducing chemical waste
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the separation parameter from chemical reactivity to magnetic susceptibility. By applying a magnetic field gradient, metals are separated based on their magnetic properties rather than chemical properties, fundamentally altering the separation mechanism to avoid chemical waste generation
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional chemical separation methods are used, then metals can be separated, but the process complexity increases due to multiple chemical steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the magnetic property as the distinguishing feature for separation. By applying a magnetic field gradient to the leachate solution, ferromagnetic metal ions (nickel, cobalt) are selectively attracted and separated from non-magnetic metal ions (lithium, manganese) in a single step, simplifying the overall separation process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex chemical separation processes with a simpler magnetic field-based separation. The magnetic field gradient method consolidates multiple chemical separation steps into a single physical separation operation, reducing process complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If magnetic field separation is applied to metal ions in solution, then separation based on magnetic susceptibility is achieved, but the magnetic field strength must be precisely controlled for different metals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different magnetic field strengths to different metals based on their magnetic susceptibilities. Ferromagnetic metals (nickel, cobalt) require stronger magnetic fields for separation, while paramagnetic metals (lithium, manganese) require weaker fields, creating localized optimization of magnetic field parameters for each metal type
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of magnetic field strength during the separation process. The magnetic field gradient is modulated to selectively separate metals in sequence, with field strength increased for ferromagnetic metals and decreased for paramagnetic metals, enabling precise control over the separation of different metal ions
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
Achieves efficient, chemical-free separation of lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt ions, reducing waste generation and enabling a closed-loop recycling process for these metals, suitable for manufacturing new batteries.
Implementation Method 1
Magnetic field gradients can be used to separate mixed metals from one another
Implementation Method 2
leveraging the differing magnetic susceptibilities of lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt ions to achieve separation
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for separating mixed metals from one another out of batteries (e.g., lithium ion batteries (LIBs)). Magnetic field gradients can be used to separate mixed metals from one another, and the products of the separation (e.g., lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), and/or cobalt (Co)) can be used again in other manufacturing processes, such as to manufacture new LIBs.