Battery deactivation
Examples are disclosed of methods to deactivate a lithium-containing battery. One example provides a method for discharging a lithium-containing battery, the method comprising adding the lithium-containing battery to a vessel, adding an oxidizing fluid to the vessel, adding carbon dioxide to the vessel, pressurizing the vessel, heating the vessel to form lithium carbonate within the lithium-containing battery, reducing heat and pressure in the vessel, and removing the battery from the vessel.
1. A method for deactivating a lithium-containing battery, the method comprising:
adding the lithium-containing battery to a vessel;
adding an amount of an oxidizing fluid to the vessel sufficient to deactivate the lithium-containing battery, wherein the oxidizing fluid comprises one or more of a fluid configured to donate protons or ozone;
adding carbon dioxide to the vessel so as to provide a contained atmosphere comprising the oxidizing fluid and the carbon dioxide;
pressurizing the vessel containing the contained atmosphere;
heating the vessel to form lithium carbonate within the lithium-containing battery;
reducing heat and pressure in the vessel; and
removing the battery from the vessel.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising breaching a container of the lithium-containing battery.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxidizing fluid further comprises one or more of hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, oxygen, an alcohol, a halogen, SO 2 , or a halocarbon having a boiling point below 150° C.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding the oxidizing fluid mixed with the carbon dioxide.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding the lithium-containing battery to the vessel comprises suspending the battery above a liquid level of the oxidizing fluid.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxidizing fluid is added to the vessel before the battery is added to the vessel.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding the oxidizing fluid to the vessel separately from adding the carbon dioxide.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxidizing fluid and the carbon dioxide are added to the vessel in a molar ratio (CO 2 :oxidizing fluid) of between 99:1 and 10:90.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the vessel comprises forming a condensed carbon dioxide phase, and wherein the condensed carbon dioxide phase comprises a gas phase, a liquid phase, a supercritical phase, and/or a dense gas phase.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the vessel comprises pressurizing to 500-900 psi.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after pressurizing the vessel, dwelling for at least 60 minutes.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the vessel comprises heating to 120-130° C.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after heating the vessel, dwelling for at least 60 minutes.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before removing the battery from the vessel, drawing a vacuum within the vessel to remove electrolyte material from the battery.
15. A method for deactivating a lithium-containing battery, the method comprising:
adding the lithium-containing battery to a vessel;
adding an amount of an oxidizing fluid to the vessel sufficient to deactivate the lithium-containing battery, wherein the oxidizing fluid comprises one or more of a fluid configured to donate protons or ozone;
adding carbon dioxide to the vessel;
pressurizing the vessel;
heating the vessel to form lithium carbonate, via a reaction facilitated by the oxidizing fluid and the carbon dioxide, within the lithium-containing battery;
reducing heat and pressure in the vessel; and
removing the battery from the vessel.