Utilizing black powder for electrolytes for flow batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021399323-A1
Application number	US-202016934779-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2020
Priority date	Jun 17, 2020
Publication date	Dec 23, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and systems are provided for utilizing black powder to form an electrolyte for a flow battery. In an exemplary method the black powder is heated under an inert atmosphere to form Fe 3 O 4 . The Fe 3 O 4 is dissolved in an acid solution to form an electrolyte solution. A ratio of iron (II) to iron (III) is adjusted by a redox process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for forming electrolyte solutions for a flow battery from black powder, comprising:
heating the black powder under an inert atmosphere to form Fe 3 O 4 ; dissolving the Fe 3 O 4 in an acid solution to form an electrolyte solution; and adjusting a ratio of iron (II) to iron (III) by a redox process.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising analyzing the black powder for naturally occurring radioactive materials.

3 . The method of claim 2 , comprising discarding black powder comprising naturally occurring radioactive materials.

4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising heating the black powder to a temperature of between about 400° C. and about 700° C.

5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising heating the black powder to a temperature of about 400° C.

6 . The method of claim 1 , comprising mixing the acid solution to a concentration of about 1 molar to about 6 molar.

7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising mixing an HCl solution to a concentration of about 1 molar to about 6 molar to form the acid solution.

8 . The method of claim 1 , comprising dissolving the Fe 3 O 4 in an acid solution comprising an HCl solution to form the electrolyte solution of a concentration of about 1 molar to about 4 molar iron ions.

9 . The method of claim 1 , comprising adjusting the ratio of iron (II) to iron (III) by reducing iron (III) to iron (II) in an electrochemical cell.

10 . The method of claim 9 , comprising adjusting the ratio of iron (III) to iron (II) in the flow battery during a recharging process.

11 . The method of claim 1 , comprising dissolving a vanadium compound in an acid to form an anolyte.

12 . The method of claim 11 , comprising dissolving VCl 3 , VOSO 4 , or both in an HCl solution form a solution of about 1 M to about 4 M in concentration of vanadium.

13 . An electrolyte for a flow battery, comprising a solution of iron ions formed from black powder that has been heat-treated to be converted to magnetite and dissolved in an acidic solution.

14 . The electrolyte of claim 13 , comprising an HCl solution of about 1 molar to about 6 molar in concentration.

15 . The electrolyte of claim 13 , comprising a solution of iron (II) and iron (III) ions in a concentration of about 1 molar to about 4 molar in iron.

16 . The electrolyte of claim 13 , comprising a solution of iron (II) ions formed from iron (III) ions in an electrochemical cell.

17 . A flow battery comprising a catholyte comprising iron ions formed from black powder that has been heat-treated to be converted to magnetite and dissolved in an acidic solution.

18 . The flow battery of claim 17 , wherein the catholyte comprises an acidic solution of iron (III) ions and iron (II) ions.

19 . The flow battery of claim 17 , comprising a solid iron anode.

20 . The flow battery of claim 17 , comprising an anolyte comprising an acidic solution of iron (II) ions.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Hammad Ahmad D
• Fadhel Bandar A
• Amr Issam T

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• C01G49/10

  Halides {(C01G49/0018 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C01G49/08

  Ferroso-ferric oxide [Fe3O4] · CPC title

• H01M8/188 Primary

  by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries · CPC title

• H01M2300/0005

  Acid electrolytes · CPC title