Method and apparatus for recycling lithium-ion batteries
US12322769B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 2024 |
| Grant date | Jun 3, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 21, 2044 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W30/84
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Cathode material from exhausted lithium ion batteries are dissolved in a solution for extracting the useful elements Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Al (Aluminum) and Mn (manganese) to produce active cathode materials for new batteries. The solution includes compounds of desirable materials such as cobalt, nickel, aluminum and manganese dissolved as compounds from the exhausted cathode material of spent cells. Depending on a desired proportion, or ratio, of the desired materials, raw materials are added to the solution to achieve the desired ratio of the commingled compounds for the recycled cathode material for new cells. The desired materials precipitate out of solution without extensive heating or separation of the desired materials into individual compounds or elements. The resulting active cathode material has the predetermined ratio for use in new cells, and avoids high heat typically required to separate the useful elements because the desired materials remain commingled in solution.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.