US 12,002,936 B2
Method for separating individual cathode-active materials from li-ion batteries
Lei Pan, Houghton, MI (US); Tinuade Ololade Folayan, Houghton, MI (US); Jeffrey S. Spangenberger, Naperville, IL (US); and Bryant J. Polzin, Deerfield, IL (US)
Assigned to UChicago Argonne, LLC, Chicago, IL (US); and Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI (US)
Filed by UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC, Chicago, IL (US); and Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/985,028.
Prior Publication US 2022/0045374 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 10/54 (2006.01); B03D 1/02 (2006.01); C01B 25/45 (2006.01); C01G 53/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01); H01M 4/02 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 10/54 (2013.01) [B03D 1/023 (2013.01); C01B 25/45 (2013.01); C01G 53/42 (2013.01); C01G 53/44 (2013.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); B03D 2201/02 (2013.01); B03D 2201/04 (2013.01); C01P 2006/40 (2013.01); C01P 2006/80 (2013.01); H01M 2004/028 (2013.01); Y02W 30/84 (2015.05)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of processing lithium-ion batteries comprising:
Forming a cathode composite slurry comprising a liquid and 1-20 wt % of two or more cathode active materials;
Modifying at least one of the two or more cathode active materials to be hydrophobic;
Adding a frother chemical to the cathode composite slurry;
Aerating the cathode composite slurry, forming a froth and a tailing;
Separating the froth; and
Drying the froth to collect a first cathode active material of the two or more cathode active materials;
Wherein modifying at least one of the two or more cathode active materials comprises interaction of the at least one of the two or more cathode active materials with a collector chemical.