	US 12,266,772 B2
	Methods and systems for scalable direct recycling of battery waste
David Young, Sudbury, MA (US); Panni Zheng, Blacksburg, VA (US); Tairan Yang, Blacksburg, VA (US); Zheng Li, Blacksburg, VA (US); and Michael W. Ellis, Blacksburg, VA (US)
Assigned to Li Industries, Inc., Pineville, NC (US)
Filed by Li Industries, Inc., Pineville, NC (US)
Filed on May 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/314,873.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/340,612, filed on May 11, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0369671 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. C22B 26/12 (2006.01); C22B 1/00 (2006.01); C22B 3/22 (2006.01); C22B 7/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/54 (2006.01)

CPC H01M 10/54 (2013.01) [C22B 1/005 (2013.01); C22B 3/22 (2013.01); C22B 7/001 (2013.01); C22B 7/006 (2013.01); C22B 26/12 (2013.01)]

27 Claims

1. A method of recycling a quantity of battery waste, the battery waste including an electrode material and a current collector, the electrode material including an active material and a binder, the method comprising:

applying a first heat treatment in an inert or reducing gas environment at a temperature of between about 400° C. and about 600° C. to the battery waste, the first heat treatment decomposing at least about 80 wt % of the binder;

separating the electrode material from the current collector; and

applying a second heat treatment in an inert or a reducing gas environment at a temperature between about 400° C. and about 1,200° C. to the electrode material to produce a regenerated electrode material, the second heat treatment decomposing at least 90 wt % of binder remaining in the electrode material to produce a regenerated electrode material.