Batteries, separators, components, and compositions with heavy metal removal capability and related methods
First Claim
1. A battery separator for a lead acid battery having phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral particles containing naturally occurring apatite as a filler component, said PIMS mineral particles binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb), wherein the PIMS mineral particles have a D50 particle size from 10 microns to 80 microns, and wherein the battery separator has a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with at least certain embodiments of the present invention, a novel concept of utilizing PIMS minerals as a filler component within a microporous lead-acid battery separator is provided. In accordance with more particular embodiments or examples, the PIMS mineral (preferably fish meal, a bio-mineral) is provided as at least a partial substitution for the silica filler component in a silica filled lead acid battery separator (preferably a polyethylene/silica separator formulation). In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present invention is directed to new or improved batteries, separators, components, and/or compositions having heavy metal removal capabilities and/or methods of manufacture and/or methods of use thereof.
14 Citations
26 Claims
- 1. A battery separator for a lead acid battery having phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral particles containing naturally occurring apatite as a filler component, said PIMS mineral particles binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb), wherein the PIMS mineral particles have a D50 particle size from 10 microns to 80 microns, and wherein the battery separator has a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm.
-
5. In a method of producing a silica filled battery separator for a lead acid battery, the improvement comprising:
- substituting at least one phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral filler containing naturally occurring apatite for at least a portion of the silica filler, said PIMS mineral filler binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb), wherein the PIMS mineral filler comprises particles having a D50 particle size from 10 microns to 80 microns, and wherein the battery separator has a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm.
- View Dependent Claims (19)
-
6. A lead acid battery, comprising:
- a housing containing a positive electrode spaced apart from a negative electrode with a porous separator located between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and an electrolyte in ionic communication between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and wherein the separator includes a filler comprising a phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral containing naturally occurring apatite, said PIMS mineral binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb), wherein the PIMS mineral comprises particles having a D50 particle size from 10 microns to 80 microns, and wherein the separator has a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm.
- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 20)
-
10. In a lead acid battery, the improvement comprising at least one of:
-
a separator comprising a filler having at least one phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral filler containing naturally occurring apatite, said PIMS mineral binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb); a silica filled microporous lead-acid battery separator comprising a filler having at least one phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral filler containing naturally occurring apatite provided as at least a partial substitution for the silica filler therein, said PIMS mineral filler binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb);
ora silica filled microporous polyethylene lead-acid battery separator comprising a filler having at least one phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral filler containing naturally occurring apatite provided as at least a partial substitution for the silica filler therein, said PIMS mineral binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb);
or combinations thereof,wherein the PIMS mineral filler comprises particles having a D50 particle size from 10 microns to 80 microns, and wherein the separator has a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
- 11. A battery separator for a lead acid battery having a polymer component and a phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral containing apatite as filler component, said PIMS mineral binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb), wherein the PIMS mineral comprises particles having a D50 particle size from 10 microns to 80 microns, and wherein the battery separator has a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm.
-
12. In a method of producing a silica filled battery separator, the improvement comprising:
- substituting at least one phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral containing apatite for at least a portion of the silica filler, said PIMS mineral binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb), wherein the PIMS mineral comprises particles having a D50 particle size from 10 microns to 80 microns, and wherein the battery separator has a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm.
- View Dependent Claims (23)
-
13. A lead acid battery, comprising:
- a housing containing a positive electrode spaced apart from a negative electrode with a porous separator located between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and an electrolyte in ionic communication between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and wherein the separator includes a filler comprising a phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral containing apatite, said PIMS mineral binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb), wherein the PIMS mineral comprises particles having a D50 particle size from 10 microns to 80 microns, and wherein the separator has a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm.
- View Dependent Claims (24)
-
14. In a lead acid battery, the improvement comprising at least one of:
-
a separator comprising a filler having at least one phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral filler containing apatite, said PIMS mineral filler binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb); a silica filled microporous lead-acid battery separator comprising a filler having at least one phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral filler containing apatite provided as at least a partial substitution for the silica filler therein, said PIMS mineral filler binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb);
ora silica filled microporous polyethylene lead-acid battery separator comprising a filler having at least one phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral filler containing apatite provided as at least a partial substitution for the silica filler therein, said PIMS mineral filler binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb);
or combinations thereof,wherein the PIMS mineral filler comprises particles having a D50 particle size from 10 microns to 80 microns, and wherein the separator has a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm. - View Dependent Claims (25)
-
-
15. A method for reducing or eliminating hydration shorts in a lead-acid battery comprising the step of:
providing the lead-acid battery with a separator including a phosphate induced metal stabilization (PIMS) mineral as a filler component, said PIMS mineral binding at least a portion of heavy metal, said heavy metal including lead (Pb), wherein the PIMS mineral comprises particles having a D50 particle size from 10 microns to 80 microns, and wherein the separator has a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 26)
Specification