US 12,322,769 B2
Method and apparatus for recycling lithium-ion batteries
Yan Wang, Acton, MA (US); Diran Apelian, West Boylston, MA (US); and Haiyang Zou, Zhuhai (CN)
Assigned to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA (US)
Filed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA (US); and Ascend Elements, Inc., Westborough, MA (US)
Filed on Feb. 21, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/582,718.
Application 18/582,718 is a continuation of application No. 18/113,130, filed on Feb. 23, 2023, granted, now 12,046,725.
Application 18/113,130 is a continuation of application No. 17/964,555, filed on Oct. 12, 2022, granted, now 11,769,916, issued on Sep. 26, 2023.
Application 17/964,555 is a continuation of application No. 17/572,079, filed on Jan. 10, 2022, granted, now 11,502,345, issued on Nov. 15, 2022.
Application 17/572,079 is a continuation of application No. 17/412,742, filed on Aug. 26, 2021, granted, now 11,955,613.
Application 17/412,742 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/164,952, filed on Oct. 19, 2018, granted, now 11,127,992, issued on Sep. 21, 2021.
Application 16/164,952 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/358,862, filed on Nov. 22, 2016, granted, now 10,522,884, issued on Dec. 31, 2019.
Application 15/358,862 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/855,994, filed on Apr. 3, 2013, granted, now 9,834,827, issued on Dec. 5, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/259,161, filed on Nov. 24, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/620,051, filed on Apr. 4, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2024/0204279 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. H01M 10/54 (2006.01); C22B 1/24 (2006.01); C22B 3/00 (2006.01); C22B 7/00 (2006.01); C22B 26/22 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 10/54 (2013.01) [C22B 1/24 (2013.01); C22B 7/007 (2013.01); C22B 23/0423 (2013.01); C22B 23/043 (2013.01); C22B 23/0438 (2013.01); C22B 26/22 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a cathode material comprising:
forming an aqueous acidic solution of cathode material salts comprising nickel salts, manganese salts, and cobalt salts, each having a respective concentration, the aqueous acidic solution formed from aggregate cathode materials and anode materials of spent cells of a lithium ion battery recycling stream;
adjusting the concentration of the cathode metal salts with additional metal salts to obtain a selected ratio; and
precipitating a cathode material precursor from the aqueous acidic solution,
wherein the cathode material salts are obtained from leaching a granular mass of crushed exhausted lithium ion batteries with an acidic leach agent.