Process for the recovery of lithium and other metals from waste lithium ion batteries

US12312654B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Rohde · Speyer, DE
• Birgit GERKE · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Regina Vogelsang · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Matthias VOGES · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Kerstin Schierle-Arndt · Zwingenberg, DE
• Fabian Seeler · Dossenheim, DE
• Torben Adermann · Ludwigshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 24, 2020
• Grant date: May 27, 2025
• Expiry date: Aug 18, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02W30/84
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a process for the recovery of one or more transition metals and lithium from waste lithium ion batteries or parts thereof. The process includes the steps of (a) providing a particulate material containing a transition metal compound and/or transition metal; (b) treating the material provided in step (a) with a polar solvent and optionally an alkaline earth hydroxide, (c) separating the solids from the liquid, optionally followed by a solid-solid separation step; and (d) treating the solids containing the transition metal in a way to dissolve at least part of the Ni and/or Co. The process provides good separation of lithium in high purity and of transition metal useful for the production of battery cathode active materials.