Process for Recycling Li-Ion Batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017005374-A1
Application number	US-201415106845-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 25, 2014
Priority date	Dec 23, 2013
Publication date	Jan 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention concerns a process for the recovery of metals and of heat from spent rechargeable batteries, in particular from spent Li-ion batteries containing relatively low amounts of cobalt. It has in particular been found that such cobalt-depleted Li-ion batteries can be processed on a copper smelter by: feeding a useful charge and slag formers to the smelter; adding heating and reducing agents; whereby at least part of the heating and/or reducing agents is replaced by Li-ion batteries containing one or more of metallic Fe, metallic Al, and carbon. Using spent LFP or LMO batteries as a feed on the Cu smelter, the production rate of Cu blister is increased, while the energy consumption from fossil sources is decreased.

First claim

1 - 4 . (canceled)

5 . A process for the recovery of enthalpy and metals from Li-ion batteries on a copper smelter, comprising:
feeding a useful charge and slag formers to the smelter; adding heating and reducing agents;
wherein at least part of the heating and/or reducing agents is replaced by Li-ion batteries containing one or more of metallic Fe, metallic Al, or carbon.

6 . The process according to claim 5 , wherein the slag formers comprise SiO 2 in an amount sufficient to comply with 0.5<SiO 2 /Fe<2.5 and with Al 2 O 3 <10 wt. % in the slag.

7 . The Process according to claim 5 , wherein the major part of the Li-ion batteries contain 3 wt. % of Co or less.

8 . The process according to claim 7 , wherein an amount of Co in the slag of less than 0.1 wt. % is obtained by feeding a major part of low-cobalt batteries.

Assignees

• Umicore Nv

Inventors

• Brouwer Sybolt
• Heulens Jeroen
• Van Horebeek David

Classifications

• Y02W30/84

  Recycling of batteries or fuel cells · CPC title

• C22B15/0052

  Reduction smelting or converting · CPC title

• C22B7/003

  only remelting, e.g. of chips, borings, turnings; apparatus used therefor · CPC title

• C21B15/00

  Other processes for the manufacture of iron from iron compounds (by electrolysis C25C1/06) · CPC title

• C22B26/12

  Obtaining lithium · CPC title