Recycling all solid-state batteries (ASSBs) and anode recovery
A method for recycling All solid state batteries (ASSBs), the method including: receiving a recycling stream of ASSBs comprising an electrolyte comingled with at least one charge material; introducing a passivating substance for neutralizing an undesired reaction or discharge of the charge materials from the batteries defining the recycling stream; agitating the batteries in the recycling stream in the presence of the passivating substance for liberating the charge materials and electrolyte stored therein; and recovering the charge material and the electrolyte from the agitated batteries, and such that the passivating substance combines with the agitated batteries for generating a beneficial product thereby recycling ASSBs.
1 . A method for recycling All solid state batteries (ASSBs), the method comprising:
receiving a recycling stream of ASSBs comprising an electrolyte comingled with at least one charge material;
introducing a passivating substance for neutralizing an undesired reaction or discharge of the charge materials from the batteries defining the recycling stream;
agitating the batteries in the recycling stream in the presence of the passivating substance for liberating the charge materials and electrolyte stored therein, further comprising prior to agitating, puncturing the ASSBs and injecting the passivating substance; and
recovering the charge material and the electrolyte from the agitated batteries, and wherein the passivating substance combines with the agitated batteries for generating a beneficial product thereby recycling ASSBs.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the batteries further comprise a metal-based anode and a cathode.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the metal-based anode is reactive in a non-inert environment.
4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the passivating substance mitigates harmful reaction with the metal-based anode and is involved in a beneficial reaction for producing the beneficial product.
5 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the solid-state electrolyte is a lithium metal.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising prior to introducing, sorting the recycling stream of ASSBs based on a type of solid-state electrolyte.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the passivating substance is at least one selected from: a reducing gas, and an inert gas.
8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the reducing gas is at least one selected from: carbon dioxide, air, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide.
9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the inert gas comprises at least one of: helium, argon, neon, xenon, krypton, and radon.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the passivating substance comprises air and argon.
11 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein a percentage of the reducing gas in the passivating substance is at least 99%, or at least 95%, or at least 90%, or at least 85%, or at least 80%, or at least 75%, or at least 70%.
12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein a percentage of the inert gas in the passivating substance is at least 1%, or at least 5%, or at least 10%, or at least 15%, or at least 20%, or at least 25%, or at least 30%.
13 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising after agitating, sieving the charge materials and beneficial product.
14 . The method according to claim 13 further comprising after sieving, washing the beneficial product with water to dissolve the beneficial product and purifying the beneficial product.
15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ASSBs is in at least one form selected from: stacked, pouched, folded pouch, and cylindrical roll.
16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the beneficial product obtained is at least one selected from: a lithium carbonate precursor, lithium nitride, lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, lithium oxalate, hydrogen, and lithium sulfide.
17 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the batteries in the recycling stream have a chemistry based on NMC (nickel, manganese, cobalt) for a cathode material.
18 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein agitating further comprises at least one of: shredding, hammering, and pulverizing.
19 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising separating the NMC and current collectors by at least one process selected from: eddy current, and froth flotation.