NCM Cathode Recycling via Aluminum-Driven Self-Propagating Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional lithium battery recycling methods are lengthy, energy-intensive, and generate secondary pollution, with high raw material consumption and treatment costs, limiting their environmental sustainability.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the reverse positioning of waste power batteries, which includes disassembling, mixing with slagging agents, self-propagating reactions, alkali treatment, and sintering to produce lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide, reducing material consumption and energy use while minimizing pollution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional recycling methods are used (disassembly, pyrolysis, crushing, sorting, acid dissolution, extraction, precipitation), then lithium nickel cobalt manganese hydroxide can be recovered, but the process becomes lengthy with high energy consumption, large raw material consumption, and secondary pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional recycling approach by using the aluminum current collector as a reducing agent instead of treating it as waste to be removed. The aluminum reacts with the lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide to reduce it to metallic alloy, which is then dissolved in alkali to recover the cathode material. This inversion eliminates multiple traditional steps including pyrolysis, acid dissolution, and precipitation, significantly shortening the process and reducing raw material consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by using alkali dissolution instead of acid dissolution to recover the cathode material. This parameter change eliminates the need for subsequent neutralization and precipitation steps, directly producing high-purity lithium nickel cobalt manganese hydroxide while reducing energy consumption and process length.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional recycling methods are used, then metals can be recovered, but secondary waste water is produced requiring costly treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful aluminum current collector into a beneficial reducing agent. The aluminum reacts with the lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide during self-propagating reaction, reducing it to metallic alloy. This eliminates the need for acid dissolution that produces secondary waste water, and the only waste produced is aluminum oxide which requires minimal treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical dissolution-precipitation system with a mechanical self-propagating reduction system. The aluminum-powered self-propagating reaction mechanically reduces the cathode material without producing secondary waste water, eliminating costly water treatment requirements.
3Use of energy by moving object
If traditional recycling methods are used, then battery materials can be recovered, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by using the aluminum current collector to pre-reduce the lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide before recovery. The self-propagating reaction occurs at relatively low temperature and consumes minimal external energy, yet achieves complete reduction and recovery of the cathode material, significantly reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining high productivity.
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 shortens the recycling process, reduces material and energy consumption, and lowers treatment costs, resulting in an environmentally friendly and efficient production of lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide for battery reuse.
Implementation Method 1
conducting a self-propagating reaction to the mixed materials at step (2), cooling, and taking out a rough nickel cobalt manganese alloy in the lower layer
Implementation Method 2
reacting lithium nickle cobalt manganese oxide with a metal aluminum by the self-propagating reaction
Implementation Method 3
grinding the rough nickel cobalt manganese alloy, adding an alkali liquor, and immersion, filtering, taking out a filter residue for washing and then drying
Implementation Method 4
adding a lithium salt solution to the porous nickel cobalt manganese alloy powder, mixing and dripping the alkali liquor, aging, filtering
Implementation Method 5
sintering the mixed powder of precursor and cooling, to obtain a lithium nickle cobalt manganese oxide
Implementation Method 6
sintering the mixed powder of precursor and cooling
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of lithium battery recovery, and provides a method for preparing lithium nickle cobalt manganese oxide by reverse positioning of a power battery and use thereof. The method first mixes and grinds a positive electrode tab and a slagging agent, then dries, cools, adds an aluminum powder, mixes well, conducts a self-propagating reaction to the mixed material, cools, takes a lower layer of rough nickel cobalt manganese alloy, grinds the rough nickel cobalt manganese alloy, adds an alkali liquor, then immerses, filters, takes the filter residue for washing and then dries, to obtain a nickel cobalt manganese alloy powder, adds a lithium salt solution to the porous nickel cobalt manganese alloy powder, mixes and drips an alkali liquor, ages, filters, takes a filter residue for washing and then dries, to obtain a mixed powder of precursor, sinters the mixed powder of precursor and cools, to obtain a lithium nickle cobalt manganese oxide. The present disclosure realizes a short distance connection of a scrapped material with a raw material, it has a short process flow, less consumption of raw and supplemental materials, low energy consumption, low treatment cost, less pollution emission, the whole process is environmental friendly.