SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXTRACTION OF METAL VALUES FROM ACTIVE MATERIAL OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES

20240417823

18/745985

January 31, 2023

The various embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for extraction of metal values from active material of Lithium-ion batteries. The system comprises a separation module and an extraction module. The extraction module further comprises an inert container, a furnace apparatus, a quenching apparatus, a filtration mechanism and a wet magnetic separation apparatus. The black mass obtained from the separation process is heated in a furnace and then quenched. The suspension is then filtered, and the solution is then evaporated to extract Lithium values. The filtrate residue is subjected to wet magnetic separation, where the magnetic material comprises Cobalt, Nickel and a plurality of other elements in the form of a non-magnetic mass.

METASTABLE MATERIALS PRIVATE LIMITED (Baghpat, IN)

1. A system for extraction of metal values from active material of Lithium-ion batteries, the system comprising: a separation module, wherein the separation module is designed to separate active material from Lithium-ion batteries; an inert container, wherein the inert container is designed to house the black mass obtained from the separation module; a furnace apparatus, wherein the furnace apparatus is designed to maintain the black mass in the inert container in a plurality of different preset temperature ranges in order to facilitate the removal of moisture from the black mass, and to facilitate a plurality of chemical reactions in the inert container; a quenching apparatus, wherein the quenching apparatus enables the quenching of the active material through cold water and facilitates in the creation of a suspension; a filtration mechanism; and, a wet magnetic separation apparatus, wherein the wet magnetic separation apparatus facilitates the separation of magnetic material and non-magnetic material from the filtered material.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inert container is preferably made of material such as stainless steel (SS330), and wherein, the black mass contained in the inert container comprises cathode and anode active material of Lithium-ion batteries, Graphite and a plurality of inevitable contamination.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the furnace apparatus is preferably a continuous-type furnace or a muffle-type furnace, and wherein, the furnace is designed to maintain the inert container at preset temperature ranges for several hours, and wherein, the temperature of the furnace is adjusted depending on whether any selective element is extracted from the black mass.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filtration mechanism is a sealed container that is designed to hold the suspension after the quenching, wherein, the suspension comprises Lithium Carbonate, metal and Carbon dioxide after the active material in the suspension is stirred in excess Carbon during quenching, and wherein, the suspension in the sealed container is maintained in a preset solid-liquid (S/L) ratio and subjected to constant stirring in a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure in Carbon dioxide environment, and wherein, the separation of solid and liquid material, and the absorption of Carbon dioxide gas is enabled by the constant stirring under higher pressure in the sealed container, and wherein the liquid is then separated under pressure and subsequently evaporated to obtain extract Lithium values and the filtrate residue is subjected to wet magnetic separation.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wet magnetic separation apparatus comprises Cobalt and Nickel as magnetic material and a plurality of non-magnetic material in the filtered material, and wherein, when the percentage of Cobalt and Nickel is high in non-magnetic material, the filtered material is once again subjected to the extraction process along with fresh active material of Lithium-ion batteries, and wherein, when the purity of magnetic material is deemed low, it is further subjected to magnetic separation for multiple times.

6. A method for extraction of metal values from active material of Lithium-ion batteries, the method comprising: providing an inert container for black mass obtained from separation of active material from Lithium-ion batteries; maintaining the black mass (material) and the inert container at higher temperatures by placing the inert container in a furnace apparatus for removing moisture and facilitating reaction; quenching the material in cold water in a quenching apparatus to create a suspension, and stirring in Carbon dioxide atmosphere at high pressure; stirring the suspension in a filtration mechanism with a specific solid-liquid ratio at high pressure to filter the solid and liquid material; evaporating the liquid material to extract Lithium values; and, subjecting the filtrate residue to wet magnetic separation in a wet magnetic separation apparatus for further separation of magnetic and non-magnetic material.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the furnace apparatus is designed to maintain the inert container at preset temperature ranges for several hours, and wherein, the temperature of the furnace is adjusted depending on whether any selective element is extracted from the black mass.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the filtration mechanism is a sealed container that is designed to hold the suspension after quenching, wherein, the suspension comprises Lithium Carbonate, metal and Carbon dioxide after the active material is reacted with excess Carbon during quenching, and wherein, the suspension in the sealed container is maintained in a preset solid-liquid (S/L) ratio and subjected to constant stirring in a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, and wherein, the separation of solid and liquid material, and the absorption of Carbon dioxide gas is enabled by the constant stirring under higher pressure in the sealed container.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wet magnetic separation apparatus facilitates the separation of magnetic material and non-magnetic material from the filtered material, and wherein, the wet magnetic separation apparatus comprises Cobalt and Nickel as magnetic material and a plurality of non-magnetic material in the filtered material, and wherein, when the percentage of Cobalt and Nickel is high, the filtered material is once again subjected to the extraction process along with fresh active material of Lithium-ion batteries.

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edspap.20240417823