Recovery of contaminant free battery materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022271355-A1
Application number	US-202117180621-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2021
Priority date	Feb 19, 2021
Publication date	Aug 25, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for producing clean black mass, anode or cathode for subsequent recycling is provided, the method comprising subjecting an intact battery to a shredding process to produce an aggregate, wherein the smallest particle generated is between 2.5 percent and 40 percent of original battery size. Also provided is a shredder for minimizing aggregation of whole batteries, the shredder comprising a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis; and a plurality of teeth disposed on said knives which fit on said shaft at an angle to the latitudinal axis selected from 15 degrees and 45 degrees, wherein the teeth have a first proximal end integrally molded to the shaft and a second free distal end.

First claim

1 . A method for direct recycling a whole battery, the method comprising subjecting the battery to a shredding process to produce particles, wherein the smallest particle generated is between 2.5 percent and 40 percent of original battery size.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method occurs in the absence of ambient air.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method occurs at a pressure between 0 and −30 psig.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method occurs below the freezing point of electrolyte present in the intact battery.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the particles comprise current collector foil laminated with electrode powder.

6 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the shredding process utilizes teeth rotating at between 5 rpm and 400 rpm.

7 . The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the teeth are positioned on a periphery of a rotating knife and each of said teeth define an edge arranged at between 0 degrees and 45 degrees relative to an arc formed by the periphery.

8 . The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the teeth are arranged at 0 degrees relative to an arc formed by the periphery and the knife rotates about a single shaft.

9 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein particles have an aspect ratio between 2:1 and 1:1 with a single pass of the whole battery through the shredding process.

10 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery defines a configuration selected from the group consisting of pouch, cylindrical, prismatic and combinations thereof.

11 . A shredder for minimizing aggregation of whole batteries, the shredder comprising the following:
a) a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a latitudinal axis; and b) a plurality of teeth disposed on knives which fit on said shaft at an angle to the latitudinal axis selected from 0 degrees and 45 degrees, wherein the teeth have a first proximal end integrally molded to the shaft and a second free distal end.

12 . The shredder as recited in claim 11 wherein the free distal end defines a hook.

13 . The shredder as recited in claim 11 wherein the shaft and teeth define a knife and the distance between teeth is similar to the width of the knife.

14 . The shredder as recited in claim 13 wherein the aspect ratio of the distance between the teeth to the width of the knife is near 1.

15 . The shredder as recited in claim 11 wherein the shredder defines a single shaft system.

16 . The shredder as recited in claim 11 wherein the shredder defines a multiple shaft system.

17 . The shredder as recited in claim 11 wherein the distance between the teeth edges ranges from ⅛ inches to 12 inches.

18 . The shredder as recited in claim 11 wherein the teeth define a pattern selected from the group consisting of running, chevron, staggered, and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Spangenberger Jeffrey S
• Polzin Bryant J
• Durham Jessica L
• Uchicago Argonne Llc

Inventors

• Spangenberger Jeffrey S
• Polzin Bryant J
• Durham Jessica L

Classifications

• B02C18/146

  with a rotor comprising a plurality of axially contiguous disc-like segments each having at least one radially extending cutting element · CPC title

• B03B2009/066

  the refuse being batteries · CPC title

• B02C18/182

  Disc-shaped knives · CPC title

• B02C18/142 Primary

  with two or more inter-engaging rotatable cutter assemblies · CPC title

• B02C18/08

  within vertical containers {(B02C18/062, B02C18/065 take precedence)} · CPC title