Gemini surfactant for use in recycling lithium batteries
US11802244B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 20, 2023 |
| Grant date | Oct 31, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 20, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W30/84
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The gemini surfactant for use in recycling lithium batteries is an anionic surfactant having the generic formula CxH2x+1(CyH2y+1) PO4CzH2zPO4CxH2x+1(CyH2y+1). An example of the surfactant is shown as compound 1 below where (x=5, y=2, z=4). Current solvents used to remove polymer binders include Nmethyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N—N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N—N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), N—N-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSA), and ethanol. The benchmark solvent often used to dissolve polymer binders is NMP. However, the present surfactants are phosphate-based surfactants and are used with a phosphate-based solvent, namely, triethyl phosphate (TEP), which is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than NMP. However, TEP has weaker binder solubility than NMP. Thus, the present surfactants are used with sonication to remove polymer binders.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.