Process for the separation of components of scrap storage batteries

• US 4,026,477 A
• Filed: 06/09/1972
• Issued: 05/31/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1965
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A Tonolli & C SPA
• Original Assignee: A Tonolli & Company SPA
• Inventors: Tremolada, Gustavo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lutter, Frank W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hill, Ralph J.
• Application Number:
  US05/261,398
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 209/2, 209/10-12, 209/172, 209/172.5, 209/173, 241/14, 241/20, 241/24, 241/2, 241/17, 241/18, 241/23
• US Class Current: 241/17
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 2009/066 the refuse being batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 9/00 General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 9/061 the refuse being industrial
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 7/00 Working up raw materials other than ores, e.g. scrap, to produce non-ferrous metals and compounds thereof; Methods of a general interest or applied to the winning of more than two metals briquetting of scrap C22B1/248; preliminary treatment of scrap C22B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/54 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/52 Mechanical processing of waste for the recovery of materials, e.g. crushing, shredding, separation or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Abstract

A process for separation of the components of scrap lead storage batteries including crushing, and then heating the pieces while tumbling, dry screening the paste from the residual materials which are fed to a sink-float apparatus whose fluidized pulp comprises a liquid suspension of battery paste. The pH and density of the pulp are regulated in the pH range of 7-10 by addition of sulphuric acid. After sink-float separation the drained and washed materials are recovered and the pulp and wash liquid are recycled back into the system.

Claims

1. A process for the separation of scrap lead storage batteries and parts thereof in three parts, namely metallic components, paste and inactive material, essentially comprising:

emptying from the batteries their sulphuric acid content;

then crushing the batteries into pieces of sizes between 2 and 15 cm, apart from the paste which is detached;

heating the pieces and paste at 35°

-50°

C., while tumbling them, until the paste reaches a humidity content of 2-7%, thereby neutralizing the residual acidity of the paste;

then separating and recovering the dry paste from the materials from the preceding step by dry screening said materials using a screen having openings of size in the range of 2 to 30 mm;

then feeding the residual material, substantially free of paste, into a separating zone containing an aqueous suspension of the paste, and having a density from 10 to 100% greater than that of the battery containers, and a pH regulated between 7 and 10, the pH and viscosity of the suspension being regulated by addition of sulphuric acid;

removing as sink the metallic components and as float the inactive material;

draining and washing the sink and float respectively, and recirculating the suspension of paste at the proper density to the separating zone.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein crushing and heating are carried out contemporaneously.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein water from the washing steps is recirculated through a thickener for recovering paste therefrom, the overflow from said thickener being recirculated as reuseable wash water.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the heating is performed by direct heating with hot gases in counter-current flow with respect to the material.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the density of the fluidized pulp, when the cases are in ebonite, is between 1.7 and 2 kg/dm³.