CA2141906C - Process for battery recycling - Google Patents
Process for battery recyclingInfo
- Publication number
- CA2141906C CA2141906C CA 2141906 CA2141906A CA2141906C CA 2141906 C CA2141906 C CA 2141906C CA 2141906 CA2141906 CA 2141906 CA 2141906 A CA2141906 A CA 2141906A CA 2141906 C CA2141906 C CA 2141906C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- batteries
- pulverised
- steel
- carbon
- zinc
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 title claims description 13
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 11
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- BPKGOZPBGXJDEP-UHFFFAOYSA-N [C].[Zn] Chemical compound [C].[Zn] BPKGOZPBGXJDEP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 229910000975 Carbon steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 239000010962 carbon steel Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000009628 steelmaking Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 12
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000003287 bathing Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- WPBNNNQJVZRUHP-UHFFFAOYSA-L manganese(2+);methyl n-[[2-(methoxycarbonylcarbamothioylamino)phenyl]carbamothioyl]carbamate;n-[2-(sulfidocarbothioylamino)ethyl]carbamodithioate Chemical compound [Mn+2].[S-]C(=S)NCCNC([S-])=S.COC(=O)NC(=S)NC1=CC=CC=C1NC(=S)NC(=O)OC WPBNNNQJVZRUHP-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000000227 grinding Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- -1 zinc metals Chemical class 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000004484 Briquette Substances 0.000 description 9
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- PWHULOQIROXLJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Manganese Chemical compound [Mn] PWHULOQIROXLJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 229910052748 manganese Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- 239000011572 manganese Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 3
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000001311 chemical methods and process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910001385 heavy metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- CWYNVVGOOAEACU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fe2+ Chemical compound [Fe+2] CWYNVVGOOAEACU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052793 cadmium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BDOSMKKIYDKNTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N cadmium atom Chemical compound [Cd] BDOSMKKIYDKNTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000012993 chemical processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013505 freshwater Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003517 fume Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007514 turning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M10/54—Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B1/00—Preliminary treatment of ores or scrap
- C22B1/14—Agglomerating; Briquetting; Binding; Granulating
- C22B1/24—Binding; Briquetting ; Granulating
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
- Y02P10/20—Recycling
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
- Y02W30/84—Recycling of batteries or fuel cells
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Primary Cells (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
Abstract
Household sealed cell alkaline and zinc carbon batteries may be recycled for use in steel making as follows.
The batteries are pulverised then run through an acidic bath to neutralize the alkaline electrolyte. Next the materials are rinsed, then dried and mixed with granulated carbon steel typically in a ratio of 5 parts battery material to 95 parts granulated carbon steel. The mixture is compressed into briquettes for introduction into steel making furnaces.
The batteries are pulverised then run through an acidic bath to neutralize the alkaline electrolyte. Next the materials are rinsed, then dried and mixed with granulated carbon steel typically in a ratio of 5 parts battery material to 95 parts granulated carbon steel. The mixture is compressed into briquettes for introduction into steel making furnaces.
Description
21419~6 ---PRO OESS FOR BATTERY RECYCLING
Background of the Invéntion 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for recycling sealed cell zinc carbon and alkaline type batteries.
Background of the Invéntion 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for recycling sealed cell zinc carbon and alkaline type batteries.
2. Description of the Related Art Ninety-five percent of portable'oatteries are household batteries. The vast ma;ority of these are sealed cell alkaline batteries. Once spent, most of these batteries are simply discarded and find their way to landfill sites.
A known method for recycling alkaline and zinc carbon batteries involves mechanically removing the casing from the battery cell and then using chemical processes to separate the solid materials of the cell. The three major solid components of the cells are zinc, carbon, and manganese. There are several problems with chemical separation processes. Firstly, the component materials involved are of low value while chemical processing is expensive. Also, additional waste streams are created with the chemical processes. In view of these drawbacks, this recycling method has not found wide spread use.
This invention seeks to overcome drawbacks of known zinc carbon and alkaline battery recycling processes.
21419~6 ~
``.
Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a process for recycling sealed cell zinc carbon and alkaline batteries comprising the steps of: pulverising at least one of sealed cell zinc carbon batteries and sealed cell alkaline batteries; bathing said pulverised batteries with acid; drying said bathed pulverised batteries; mixing said dried bathed pulverised batteries with granulated carbon steel to provide a mixture containing up to about 25% of said dried bathed pulverised batteries; and compressing said mixture into briquettes.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for preparing batteries of the type having a steel casing, carbon, manganese, and zinc metals, and an alkaline electrolyte for use in the making of steel, comprising the steps of: pulverising said batteries; bathing said pulverised batteries with acid in order to neutralize said alkaline electrolyte; after bathing, rinsing said pulverised batteries; after rinsing, drying said pulverised batteries; after drying, mixing said pulverised batteries with granulated carbon steel to provide a mixture containing up to about 25% of said pulverised batteries; and compressing said mixture into briquettes suitable for introduction into a steel making furnace.
Brief 3escription of the Drawing In the figures, which represent an example embodiment of the invention, figure 1 is a schematic view of a portion of battery 21~1906 -recycling apparatus made in accordance with the invention, and figure 2 is a schematic view of another portion of battery recycling apparatus made in accordance with the invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments A sealed cell alkaline battery comprises about 20%
zinc, 20% manganese, and 20% carbon. Steel, primarily from the casing, comprises, approximately, a further 20% of the battery.
The balance of the battery comprises the alkaline electrolyte and other components, such as paper and plastic. The composition of a sealed cell zinc carbon battery is similar.
Figure 1 shows the first stage 10 of apparatus for recycling zinc carbon and alkaline batteries. The batteries are placed in a hopper 12 which feeds them to a pulverizer in the nature of a grinding mill 14. The output of the grinding mill is positioned above an acidic bath 16. The bath 16 is provided with an acid feed inlet 40 and an effluent outlet 42. An inclined conveyor 1a has a lower upstream end 20 in acidic bath 16. The conveyor extends past a fresh water rinser 22 and into rotary dryer 24 at its raised downstream end 26. A collector 34 is positioned below the output end of drier 24.
Figure 2 shows the second stage 50 of apparatus for recycling alkaline batteries. Collector 34 is positioned oYer a hopper 51. Hopper 51 feeds to mixing conveyor 52. A chute 54 feeds a hopper 56 which also discharges to the mixing conveyor 52. The mixing conveyor comprises a conveying and mixing auger 58. The outlet 60 of the mixer 52 is hinged to the mixer body and may be directed-to feed to cavity 64 of hydraulic press 62.
214190~
`_.
The chute 60 may also be moved out of the way of hydraulic press 62. The press 62 has a ram ~8 registered with cavity, 64. A
controller 66 controls the degree to which hoppers 51 and 56 are opened.
In operation, sealed cell alkaline and zinc carbon batteries are placed in hopper 12 whic'n discharges them to grinding mill 14. The mill pulverizes the batteries and drops the pulverized batteries onto conveyor 18 in acidic bath 16. A
constant flow is maintained through the bath with fresh acid feeding through inlet 40 and effluent leaving through outlet 42.
The conveyor slowly conveys the pulverized batteries through the bath while the acid neutralizes the alkaline electrolyte of the batteries as it combines with the electrolyte to form a salt and water. As the pulverized batteries move downstream along the conveyor, they leave the bath 16 and pass under rinser 22 which sprays fresh rinse water onto them. The pulverized batteries are .
then discharged from the conveyor into drier 24 which dries them.
The dried pulverised batteries drop from the outlet of the drier to a collector 34.
After a collector 34 has been filled, it may be positioned over hopper 51 and a trap door in the bottom of the collector opened so that the collector discharges to the hopper 51. Granulated carbon steel is supplied to chute 54 such that it discharges to hopper 56. Controller 66 controls the degree to which hoppers 50 and 56 are opened and thereby controls the rate of discharge of material from the hoppers to the mixer 52.
The conveying and mixing auger 58 of the mixer rotates such that material falling into the mixer is transported toward outlet 60 21419~
~ .
and is mixed as well. With the outlet 60 directed toward hydraulic press 62, material exiting mixer 52 enters cavity 64 of the press. When the cavity 64 is full, chute 60 of the mixer is deflected out of the way and ram 68 of press 62 extends in order to compress material in cavity 64 into a briquette. The briquette is removed from the cavity and outlet 60 redirected toward the cavity so that it is filled once more. Two rams may be provided such that the cavity of one may be being filled while a briquette is being formed in the other.
The granulated carbon steel supplied to chute 54 may be steel turnings, drillings, granules or other small pieces of steel. This granulated steel may be purchased as "waste steel"
in the marketplace. Granulated "waste" steel typically has a low carbon and manganese content.
t5 The fact that sealed cell zinc carbon and alkaline batteries contain carbon and manganese suggests they might be useful in steel recycling since steel comprises iron and carbon along with some manganese (with the percentage of carbon and manganese increasing for harder steels). However, an attempt to utilize the pulverized batteries in collector 34 directly in a steel making furnace would be fraught with a number of difficulties. Firstly, in a steel making plant wh~ch feeds scrap steel to steel making furnaces, conventionally ~eedstock is moved from place to place by use of electromagnets. Pulverized batteries are substantially non-magnetic and, therefore, would not be amenable to conveying by this approach. However, once combined with carbon steel into the briquettes of this invention, the briquettes can by moved with electromagnets. Secondly, loose ~1419~6 materials tend to flare off rather than combining with the furnace mixture for steel making. The compressed briquettes of the subject invention substantially avoid this difficulty.
Further, steel mills which recycle scrap steel provide specifications for the steel feedstock they will purchase.
Typically the feedstock is required to have no more than 4%
carbon, 1 1/4% manganese, and 1% zinc. Direct use of pulverized batteries from the collector 34 would provide an additive which did not meet these specifications. With the subject invention, the controller 66 of figure 2 controls the ratio of ~attery material to carbon steel in the briquettes. The controller may be adjusted so that each briquette has about 95% granulated steel and 5% of battery material. With this setting, the amount of manganese, zinc, and carbon from the battery material will each be diluted to about 1~ of the briquette, which is well within the noted specifications. Further, since the granulated steel which forms 95% of the briquette typically has a low carbon and manganese content and no zinc, the composite briquette will generally remain well within the noted specifications and so may be used directly in a steel making furnace.
Briquettes with greater than 5% battery material can also be used as feedstock, provided they are mixed into a load of ferrous feedstock such that the there is no more than 5%
battery material in the load. The maximum percentage of battery material in a briquette is limited by the requirement that the battery material combine with the granulated steel. Combining occurs with up to about 25% of battery material in the briquette and so this is a practical limit for the ~ercentage of battery _ material in the briquettes.
When the subject briquettes are introduced to a steel making furnace, the paper and plastic from the battery material incinerate and the zinc fumes off (zinc has a lower vaporization temperature than the temperature used in steel making). The zinc which finds its way into the baghouse dust is actually advantageous since steel makers send their ~aghouse dust to recyclers (for extraction of useful metals) and a lesser charge is paid for baghouse dust having a zinc component.
As of January, 1994, alkaline and zinc carbon battery makers avoid using mercury and cadmium in their ~atteries.
Nevertheless, there are still older batteries which will have a heavy metals content. A very small percentage of ~atteries which incorporate such heavy metals may be tolerated in the subject process.
Modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.
A known method for recycling alkaline and zinc carbon batteries involves mechanically removing the casing from the battery cell and then using chemical processes to separate the solid materials of the cell. The three major solid components of the cells are zinc, carbon, and manganese. There are several problems with chemical separation processes. Firstly, the component materials involved are of low value while chemical processing is expensive. Also, additional waste streams are created with the chemical processes. In view of these drawbacks, this recycling method has not found wide spread use.
This invention seeks to overcome drawbacks of known zinc carbon and alkaline battery recycling processes.
21419~6 ~
``.
Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a process for recycling sealed cell zinc carbon and alkaline batteries comprising the steps of: pulverising at least one of sealed cell zinc carbon batteries and sealed cell alkaline batteries; bathing said pulverised batteries with acid; drying said bathed pulverised batteries; mixing said dried bathed pulverised batteries with granulated carbon steel to provide a mixture containing up to about 25% of said dried bathed pulverised batteries; and compressing said mixture into briquettes.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for preparing batteries of the type having a steel casing, carbon, manganese, and zinc metals, and an alkaline electrolyte for use in the making of steel, comprising the steps of: pulverising said batteries; bathing said pulverised batteries with acid in order to neutralize said alkaline electrolyte; after bathing, rinsing said pulverised batteries; after rinsing, drying said pulverised batteries; after drying, mixing said pulverised batteries with granulated carbon steel to provide a mixture containing up to about 25% of said pulverised batteries; and compressing said mixture into briquettes suitable for introduction into a steel making furnace.
Brief 3escription of the Drawing In the figures, which represent an example embodiment of the invention, figure 1 is a schematic view of a portion of battery 21~1906 -recycling apparatus made in accordance with the invention, and figure 2 is a schematic view of another portion of battery recycling apparatus made in accordance with the invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments A sealed cell alkaline battery comprises about 20%
zinc, 20% manganese, and 20% carbon. Steel, primarily from the casing, comprises, approximately, a further 20% of the battery.
The balance of the battery comprises the alkaline electrolyte and other components, such as paper and plastic. The composition of a sealed cell zinc carbon battery is similar.
Figure 1 shows the first stage 10 of apparatus for recycling zinc carbon and alkaline batteries. The batteries are placed in a hopper 12 which feeds them to a pulverizer in the nature of a grinding mill 14. The output of the grinding mill is positioned above an acidic bath 16. The bath 16 is provided with an acid feed inlet 40 and an effluent outlet 42. An inclined conveyor 1a has a lower upstream end 20 in acidic bath 16. The conveyor extends past a fresh water rinser 22 and into rotary dryer 24 at its raised downstream end 26. A collector 34 is positioned below the output end of drier 24.
Figure 2 shows the second stage 50 of apparatus for recycling alkaline batteries. Collector 34 is positioned oYer a hopper 51. Hopper 51 feeds to mixing conveyor 52. A chute 54 feeds a hopper 56 which also discharges to the mixing conveyor 52. The mixing conveyor comprises a conveying and mixing auger 58. The outlet 60 of the mixer 52 is hinged to the mixer body and may be directed-to feed to cavity 64 of hydraulic press 62.
214190~
`_.
The chute 60 may also be moved out of the way of hydraulic press 62. The press 62 has a ram ~8 registered with cavity, 64. A
controller 66 controls the degree to which hoppers 51 and 56 are opened.
In operation, sealed cell alkaline and zinc carbon batteries are placed in hopper 12 whic'n discharges them to grinding mill 14. The mill pulverizes the batteries and drops the pulverized batteries onto conveyor 18 in acidic bath 16. A
constant flow is maintained through the bath with fresh acid feeding through inlet 40 and effluent leaving through outlet 42.
The conveyor slowly conveys the pulverized batteries through the bath while the acid neutralizes the alkaline electrolyte of the batteries as it combines with the electrolyte to form a salt and water. As the pulverized batteries move downstream along the conveyor, they leave the bath 16 and pass under rinser 22 which sprays fresh rinse water onto them. The pulverized batteries are .
then discharged from the conveyor into drier 24 which dries them.
The dried pulverised batteries drop from the outlet of the drier to a collector 34.
After a collector 34 has been filled, it may be positioned over hopper 51 and a trap door in the bottom of the collector opened so that the collector discharges to the hopper 51. Granulated carbon steel is supplied to chute 54 such that it discharges to hopper 56. Controller 66 controls the degree to which hoppers 50 and 56 are opened and thereby controls the rate of discharge of material from the hoppers to the mixer 52.
The conveying and mixing auger 58 of the mixer rotates such that material falling into the mixer is transported toward outlet 60 21419~
~ .
and is mixed as well. With the outlet 60 directed toward hydraulic press 62, material exiting mixer 52 enters cavity 64 of the press. When the cavity 64 is full, chute 60 of the mixer is deflected out of the way and ram 68 of press 62 extends in order to compress material in cavity 64 into a briquette. The briquette is removed from the cavity and outlet 60 redirected toward the cavity so that it is filled once more. Two rams may be provided such that the cavity of one may be being filled while a briquette is being formed in the other.
The granulated carbon steel supplied to chute 54 may be steel turnings, drillings, granules or other small pieces of steel. This granulated steel may be purchased as "waste steel"
in the marketplace. Granulated "waste" steel typically has a low carbon and manganese content.
t5 The fact that sealed cell zinc carbon and alkaline batteries contain carbon and manganese suggests they might be useful in steel recycling since steel comprises iron and carbon along with some manganese (with the percentage of carbon and manganese increasing for harder steels). However, an attempt to utilize the pulverized batteries in collector 34 directly in a steel making furnace would be fraught with a number of difficulties. Firstly, in a steel making plant wh~ch feeds scrap steel to steel making furnaces, conventionally ~eedstock is moved from place to place by use of electromagnets. Pulverized batteries are substantially non-magnetic and, therefore, would not be amenable to conveying by this approach. However, once combined with carbon steel into the briquettes of this invention, the briquettes can by moved with electromagnets. Secondly, loose ~1419~6 materials tend to flare off rather than combining with the furnace mixture for steel making. The compressed briquettes of the subject invention substantially avoid this difficulty.
Further, steel mills which recycle scrap steel provide specifications for the steel feedstock they will purchase.
Typically the feedstock is required to have no more than 4%
carbon, 1 1/4% manganese, and 1% zinc. Direct use of pulverized batteries from the collector 34 would provide an additive which did not meet these specifications. With the subject invention, the controller 66 of figure 2 controls the ratio of ~attery material to carbon steel in the briquettes. The controller may be adjusted so that each briquette has about 95% granulated steel and 5% of battery material. With this setting, the amount of manganese, zinc, and carbon from the battery material will each be diluted to about 1~ of the briquette, which is well within the noted specifications. Further, since the granulated steel which forms 95% of the briquette typically has a low carbon and manganese content and no zinc, the composite briquette will generally remain well within the noted specifications and so may be used directly in a steel making furnace.
Briquettes with greater than 5% battery material can also be used as feedstock, provided they are mixed into a load of ferrous feedstock such that the there is no more than 5%
battery material in the load. The maximum percentage of battery material in a briquette is limited by the requirement that the battery material combine with the granulated steel. Combining occurs with up to about 25% of battery material in the briquette and so this is a practical limit for the ~ercentage of battery _ material in the briquettes.
When the subject briquettes are introduced to a steel making furnace, the paper and plastic from the battery material incinerate and the zinc fumes off (zinc has a lower vaporization temperature than the temperature used in steel making). The zinc which finds its way into the baghouse dust is actually advantageous since steel makers send their ~aghouse dust to recyclers (for extraction of useful metals) and a lesser charge is paid for baghouse dust having a zinc component.
As of January, 1994, alkaline and zinc carbon battery makers avoid using mercury and cadmium in their ~atteries.
Nevertheless, there are still older batteries which will have a heavy metals content. A very small percentage of ~atteries which incorporate such heavy metals may be tolerated in the subject process.
Modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.
Claims (7)
1. A process for recycling sealed cell zinc carbon and alkaline batteries comprising the steps of:
- pulverising at least one of sealed cell zinc carbon batteries and sealed cell alkaline batteries;
- bathing said pulverised batteries with acid;
- drying said bathed pulverised batteries;
- mixing said dried bathed pulverised batteries with granulated carbon steel to provide a mixture containing up to about 25% of said dried bathed pulverised batteries; and - compressing said mixture into briquettes.
- pulverising at least one of sealed cell zinc carbon batteries and sealed cell alkaline batteries;
- bathing said pulverised batteries with acid;
- drying said bathed pulverised batteries;
- mixing said dried bathed pulverised batteries with granulated carbon steel to provide a mixture containing up to about 25% of said dried bathed pulverised batteries; and - compressing said mixture into briquettes.
2. The process of claim 1 including the step of rinsing said pulverised batteries after the step of bathing said pulverised batteries.
3. The process of claim 2 wherein said mixing step provides a mixture containing about 5% of said dried bathed pulverised batteries.
4. A process for preparing batteries of the type having a steel casing, carbon, manganese, and zinc metals, and an alkaline electrolyte for use in the making of steel, comprising the steps of:
- pulverising said batteries;
- bathing said pulverised batteries with acid in order to neutralize said alkaline electrolyte;
- after bathing, rinsing said pulverised batteries;
- after rinsing, drying said pulverised batteries;
- after drying, mixing said pulverised batteries with granulated carbon steel to provide a mixture containing up to about 25% of said pulverised batteries; and - compressing said mixture into briquettes suitable for introduction in a steel making furnace.
- pulverising said batteries;
- bathing said pulverised batteries with acid in order to neutralize said alkaline electrolyte;
- after bathing, rinsing said pulverised batteries;
- after rinsing, drying said pulverised batteries;
- after drying, mixing said pulverised batteries with granulated carbon steel to provide a mixture containing up to about 25% of said pulverised batteries; and - compressing said mixture into briquettes suitable for introduction in a steel making furnace.
5. The process of claim 4 wherein said mixing step provides a mixture containing about 5% of said pulverised batteries.
6. Apparatus for preparing batteries of the type having a steel casing, carbon, manganese, and zinc metals, and an alkaline electrolyte for use in the making of steel, comprising the following:
- a pulveriser;
- an acid bath at an output of said pulveriser;
- a rinsing station;
- a drying station;
- means to convey material output from said pulveriser through said acid bath, said rinsing station, and said drying station;
- means to mix a controlled amount of granulated carbon steel with material output from said drying station; and - a press associated with the output of said mixing means.
- a pulveriser;
- an acid bath at an output of said pulveriser;
- a rinsing station;
- a drying station;
- means to convey material output from said pulveriser through said acid bath, said rinsing station, and said drying station;
- means to mix a controlled amount of granulated carbon steel with material output from said drying station; and - a press associated with the output of said mixing means.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pulveriser is a grinding mill.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/326,633 | 1994-10-20 | ||
| US08/326,633 US5456992A (en) | 1994-10-20 | 1994-10-20 | Process for battery recycling |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2141906A1 CA2141906A1 (en) | 1996-04-21 |
| CA2141906C true CA2141906C (en) | 1998-11-17 |
Family
ID=23273050
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2141906 Expired - Lifetime CA2141906C (en) | 1994-10-20 | 1995-02-06 | Process for battery recycling |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5456992A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2141906C (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP3183619B2 (en) * | 1995-10-26 | 2001-07-09 | 三井金属鉱業株式会社 | Method for recovering valuable resources from secondary batteries for electric vehicles |
| US6686086B1 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2004-02-03 | Secor International Inc. | Battery reclamation system |
| RU2178933C1 (en) * | 2000-11-08 | 2002-01-27 | Закрытое акционерное общество "Компания Сезар" | Method of processing alkaline batteries |
| US8807466B2 (en) | 2011-06-06 | 2014-08-19 | Raw Materials Company Inc. | Method and system for reclamation of battery constituents |
| US9670565B2 (en) | 2014-06-20 | 2017-06-06 | Johnson Controls Technology Company | Systems and methods for the hydrometallurgical recovery of lead from spent lead-acid batteries and the preparation of lead oxide for use in new lead-acid batteries |
| US9533273B2 (en) | 2014-06-20 | 2017-01-03 | Johnson Controls Technology Company | Systems and methods for isolating a particulate product when recycling lead from spent lead-acid batteries |
| US10062933B2 (en) | 2015-12-14 | 2018-08-28 | Johnson Controls Technology Company | Hydrometallurgical electrowinning of lead from spent lead-acid batteries |
| EP3533887A1 (en) * | 2018-03-01 | 2019-09-04 | Fiday Gestion | Method and facility for reclamation of used batteries and storage cells |
| GB2566391B (en) * | 2018-11-28 | 2019-12-18 | Cangnan Yajia New Energy Tech Co Ltd | A recycling apparatus for waste lithium battery |
| US10995014B1 (en) | 2020-07-10 | 2021-05-04 | Northvolt Ab | Process for producing crystallized metal sulfates |
| EP4105346A3 (en) | 2021-06-16 | 2023-03-08 | Bonhun Ku | Apparatus for processing waste battery |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2726972A (en) * | 1953-06-01 | 1955-12-13 | North American Aviation Inc | Method and apparatus for forming metal workpieces |
| IT1191650B (en) * | 1986-01-09 | 1988-03-23 | Tecneco Spa | HYDROMETALLURGIC PROCESS FOR A TOTAL RECOVERY OF THE COMPONENTS OF EXHAUSTED LEAD ACID BATTERIES |
| IT1223314B (en) * | 1987-10-20 | 1990-09-19 | Engitec Impianti | HYDRO-METALLURGIC PROCESS TO RECOVER IN LEAD METALLIC FORM ALL THE LEAD CONTAINED IN THE ACTIVE MASS OF THE EXHAUSTED BATTERIES |
| US5211818A (en) * | 1991-04-09 | 1993-05-18 | Moure Jr William B | Method for recovering lead from batteries |
-
1994
- 1994-10-20 US US08/326,633 patent/US5456992A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1995
- 1995-02-06 CA CA 2141906 patent/CA2141906C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5456992A (en) | 1995-10-10 |
| CA2141906A1 (en) | 1996-04-21 |
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