Li reclamation process

• US 5,888,463 A
• Filed: 01/02/1998
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Retriev Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Toxco, Inc.
• Inventors: McLaughlin, William, Adams, Terry S.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOS, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/002,434
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 423/179.5, 62/64, 429/49
• US Class Current: 423/179.5
• CPC Class Codes: C01D 15/00 Lithium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C01D 15/02 Oxides; Hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C01D 15/08 Carbonates; Bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/16 with organic electrolyte H01M6/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/52 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste cells or batteries , e.g. recycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Abstract

Li batteries are cryogenically cooled, comminuted and reacted with water having its pH adjusted with the addition of LiOH. The resulting salts are substantially dewatered and optionally further purified in an electrolytic cell to yield substantially uncontaminated LiOH for reuse.

Claims

1. A process for recovering Li from Li containing wastes, comprising the steps of:

cooling the Li containing waste to substantially cryogenic temperatures;

comminuting the cooled Li containing waste;

reacting the cooled and comminuted Li containing waste with water to form Li salts in the water;

maintaining the pH of said water sufficiently high to prevent the formation of H₂ S, with the addition of LiOH thereto; and

separating Li salts formed by the reaction of the Li containing waste with water.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein a pH of 10 is maintained.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said Li containing waste comprises Li batteries.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein said waste is cooled by immersion in liquid N₂.

5. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of dissolving said salt in a H₂ SO₄ solution.

6. The process of claim 5 further comprising the step of passing the dissolved salts through an electrolytic cell to yield LiOH.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein a portion of said LiOH is added to the water in which said cooled Li containing waste is reacted in order to maintain said pH sufficiently high.

8. The process of claim 6 wherein said LiOH is reacted with CO₂ to form LiCO₃.