Method for removing copper and aluminum from an electrode material, and process for recycling electrode material from waste lithium-ion batteries

• US 10,103,413 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Farasis Energy (Ganzhou) Co., Ltd (Farasis Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Farasis Energy (Ganzhou) Co., Ltd (Farasis Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsang, Floris, Hailey, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Bos, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US14/826,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20160049700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 429 49, 423 32, 423 33, 423 27, 423131, 4231503
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 23/0446 with an ammoniacal liquor or with a hydroxide of an alkali or alkaline-earth metal
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 26/12 Obtaining lithium
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 7/008 by an alkaline or ammoniacal leaching
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/54 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for removing copper and aluminum from an electrode material and a process for recycling electrode material from waste lithium-ion batteries. The method for removing copper and aluminum from the electrode material comprises: subjecting the electrode material containing electrode active material, copper and aluminum to reaction with an aqueous solution, wherein the aqueous solution has a pH value of higher than 10, and comprises base, oxidizing agent and complexing agent. The process for recycling electrode material from waste lithium-ion batteries comprises: a) harvesting an electrode material containing electrode active material, copper and aluminum from waste lithium-ion batteries; b) removing copper and aluminum from the electrode material according to the foresaid method; and c) further purifying and regenerating the electrode active material for reuse in new lithium-ion batteries. The present invention thus provides a practical and efficient method for recycling active materials from waste lithium-ion batteries.

Claims

1. A method for removing copper and aluminum from an electrode material, comprising:

subjecting the electrode material containing electrode active material, copper, and aluminum, to reaction with an aqueous solution, wherein the aqueous solution has a pH value higher than 10, and comprises base, oxidizing agent and complexing agent.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the base in the aqueous solution is one or more selected from the group consisting of inorganic bases with a pKb less than <

1.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the base in the aqueous solution is one or more selected from the group consisting of lithium hydroxide (LiOH), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and potassium hydroxide (KOH).

4. The method of claim 1, in which the pH value of the aqueous solution is higher than 11.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the oxidizing agent is dissolved oxygen.

6. The method of claim 5, in which the dissolved oxygen is provided by aerating oxygen gas into the aqueous solution.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the complexing agent is ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH).

8. The method of claim 1, in which the concentration of the complexing agent is between 1 mol/L to 10 mol/L.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the reaction temperature is between 20°

C. to 90°

C., and the reaction time is between 0.5 hour and 100 hours.

10. The method of claim 1, in which the electrode active material is one or more selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiNiO₂, LiNiCoO₂, Li(LiNiCoMn)O₂, LiNiCoMnO₂, and LiFePO₄.

11. The method of claim 1, in which the electrode material is powder or slurry.

12. The method of claim 1, in which the electrode material is derived from waste lithium-ion batteries.

13. A process for recycling electrode material from waste lithium-ion batteries, comprising:

a) harvesting an electrode material containing electrode active material, and which may contain copper and aluminum, from waste lithium-ion batteries;

b) removing copper and aluminum from the electrode material according to the method of claim 1; and

c) further purifying and regenerating the electrode active material obtained in operation b) for reuse in new lithium-ion batteries.