DE102020210948A1 - Process for the recovery of substances from used battery cells - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses methods for the recovery of transition metals and/or semi-metals from the powder of shredded batteries using hyperaccumulating plants, the plants being cultivated in a vertical farming device. Also disclosed is the use of a hyper-accumulating plant for recovering transition metals and/or semi-metals from the powder of shredded batteries, as well as a technical installation which allows the method to be carried out.

Description

The present invention relates to the recovery of materials from battery cells. Used battery cells accumulate in large numbers and, for reasons of environmental protection, are largely recycled. The transition metals cobalt, nickel and manganese are often present in battery cathodes and silicon in battery anodes. During recycling, the battery cells are often shredded. The resulting battery powder is then further processed. The raw materials such as cobalt, nickel, manganese, aluminum and copper are only partially recovered through mechanical and chemical processes. In particular, the separation of silicon and graphite still poses a major challenge in the conventional recycling of battery cells. The shredded powder or the acid-treated mixture that is produced during the recycling process still contains residual metals that cannot be further processed or only with enormous effort can be released.

So-called "phytofarming" offers a sustainable method for enriching metals, transition metals and semi-metals from soils, which only contain these substances in comparatively small quantities. In phytofarming, so-called "hyperaccumulating plants" ("hyperaccumulator plants") are planted in a targeted manner, for example on spoil heaps, so that they remove heavy metals from the soil, among other things. The plants are cut, dried and burned to ashes. The metal is extracted from the ash using acid (Stein: Relationships between soil and leaf mineral composition are element-specific; New Phytologist; 2017). The expression “hyperaccumulating plant” is understood here to mean a plant which effectively absorbs metals, transition metals and/or semimetals from the soil and accumulates them in its tissue. The hyperaccumulating plants are typically able to thrive in soils that contain a comparatively high concentration of the metals, transition metals, or semimetals. A well-known example of a hyper-accumulating plant is the wall stonecrop (Alyssum murale), which is described in more detail below.

the EP0993510B1 relates to processes for extracting nickel, cobalt and other metals from the soil using hyperaccumulating Alyssum plants, which concentrate the metals in above-ground plant parts (also known as "phytomining"). Also the EP0993510B1 states that the soil must be conditioned for effective uptake of the metal, in particular by lowering the pH value, adding chelators, fertilizing and/or lowering the calcium content.

CN101372727 describes a method for extracting valuable metals from the plant matter of hyperaccumulating plants. The process comprises the steps of burning the harvested plant material, leaching the metal using an ammonium-containing system and electrochemically separating the metal.

the U.S. 5,917,117 describes methods for the decontamination of metal-contaminated soil using plants. Improved uptake of the metal in the roots of the plant should initially be achieved by influencing the availability of the metal in the soil, for example by introducing chelators into the soil, by tilling the soil or by lowering the pH of the soil. Furthermore, an inducing agent is used to induce hyperaccumulation of the metal in the shoots of the plant. to the in U.S. 5,917,117 Again, the inducing agents mentioned include pH lowering and chelating agents, but also herbicides and high concentrations of heavy metals. Brassicaceae (cruciferous plants), in particular Brassica juncea (brown mustard), are proposed as particularly preferred plants for decontamination of the soil (also referred to as “phytoremediation”).

WO2012103651 ( EP2670707 ) discloses a method for phytoextraction of nickel from soil. For this purpose, a crystallized nickel salt is obtained from the ash of a hyperaccumulator plant.

The technical task of the present invention was in particular to further improve the recovery of valuable substances from used batteries and accumulators. In particular, recycling should be more effective, economical and environmentally friendly.

To solve the technical problem, a method according to claim 1 is proposed. Furthermore, a use of a hyper-accumulating plant for the recovery of metals and/or semi-metals from the powder of shredded batteries according to claim 11 is proposed. The invention also includes a technical installation according to claim 13 for the recovery of metals and/or semi-metals from a powdered recycling material, which comprises shredded battery cells or consists of shredded battery cells, using hyperaccumulating plants. Further advantageous developments are specified in the dependent patent claims. The description, especially in Connection with the figures, explains the features of the invention and lists further variants.

Surprisingly, it was found that a particularly effective, resource-saving and environmentally friendly recovery of raw materials from shredded battery cells is possible by cultivating hyperaccumulating plants on a substrate mixture containing the battery powder using vertical farming. In particular, using the method proposed here, it is also possible to recover from such a battery powder residual contents of metals and/or semi-metals which are not accessible or only accessible with great effort using conventional methods. The process can help to reduce or avoid the generation of hazardous waste. The method can be carried out particularly effectively under containment conditions (separation from the environment by enclosing the plant), so that pollution of the environment through the release of contaminated substances can be avoided. The method allows targeted stimulation of hyperaccumulation, since the plants can be localized according to their development phase at locations with optimal culture conditions.

The phytomining method proposed here is aimed at recovering at least one transition metal and/or semimetal from a powdered recycling material. The recycling material includes or consists of crushed battery cells. The comminution takes place in particular by shredding or an analogous method. The recycling material is therefore preferably "powdered", by which the term in the present context is intended to include any highly comminuted material, for example granular particles, these particles usually having an average particle size of less than 5 mm, in particular less than 2 mm, particularly preferably from 5 µm to 1 mm. The average particle size can be determined microscopically by looking at the particles from above and determining the smallest and largest diameter for each individual particle in the sample. The mean value of this individual particle is then determined from the smallest and the largest diameter of an individual particle. Such an average of a single particle is determined from a sufficient number of particles. Then the arithmetic mean is calculated from several of these mean values of the individual particles.

In connection with the present invention, the expression “battery cell” means any type of storage device for electrical energy, in particular on an electrochemical basis, including both chargeable batteries (“accumulators”) and non-rechargeable batteries. Also included are storage devices for electrical energy based on capacitors.

The hyperaccumulating plants already mentioned at the outset can be used in the method.

The method initially includes the provision of the above-mentioned powdered recycling material and a culture substrate. The culture substrate for the plants (“plant culture substrate”) consists of substances that serve as root space for the plants. Normally, a culture soil is used as a culture medium. Alternative culture substrates are, for example, mineral wool, expanded perlite or expanded clay. A cultivated soil is preferably used in connection with the present invention, since soil can be mixed very well with the pulverized recycling material. The culture soil preferably contains proportions of compost and/or wood fibers. The proportion of compost and/or wood fibers is preferably 5% to 30% in each case. For environmental reasons, the culture soil used should preferably be free of peat.

In a subsequent step, a substrate mixture comprising the pulverized recycling material and the culture substrate is produced. Mixing ratios of recycling material to culture substrate in the range from 1 to 1000 to 1 to 1, in particular from 1 to 500 to 1 to 5, in each case based on the mass fractions of the fractions, are preferred. It is advantageous to avoid too high a proportion of recycled material (more than 20% mass), as otherwise the culture of the plants can be impaired.

At least one culture vessel is also provided and filled with the substrate mixture. Suitable culture vessels are all vessels usually provided for plant culture, in particular flat troughs that allow a sufficient filling height, for example 10 to 50 cm.

A large number of seeds and/or seedlings of one or more hyperaccumulating plant species are then introduced into the culture vessels filled with the substrate mixture. It is therefore possible to sow the hyper-accumulating plants directly into the culture vessels or, alternatively, to pre-culture (pre-germination) and then plant the already germinated seedlings. The pre-germination of the plants takes place, for example, on breeding soil. Since, in connection with the present invention, the greatest possible automation should advantageously be sought, the inventors propose in particular direct sowing directly into the culture vessels.

The plants originating from the seeds and/or seedlings are then preferably cultivated in the culture vessel until they are harvested. When the plants are harvested, preferably only the above-ground parts of the plant are harvested, it also being possible to harvest the entire plants including the root.

Since the cultivated plants have now enriched the substances desired for recovery in their tissue, the at least one transition metal and/or semimetal can be extracted from the harvested plants. The extraction is carried out according to methods known in the prior art, it being possible to resort to the preferred methods mentioned further below.

According to the invention, the plants are cultivated in a vertical farming device which has at least two tiers, preferably two to 20 tiers, in particular 3 to 10 tiers.

The used substrate mixture can be disposed of after harvest. Alternatively, it is also possible to introduce another generation of plants into the used substrate mixture in order to recover additional raw materials from the substrate. This additional plant generation can be the same plant species (to obtain further quantities of the same raw material from the recycled material) or a different plant species (to obtain a different raw material from the recycled material). It is also conceivable, if the culture substrate allows it, to separate the pulverized recycling material from the culture substrate again, so that the latter can be used again. Such a method is possible, for example, when using expanded clay, in which case the separation can be carried out by a screening method.

In order to promote the uptake of the raw materials intended for recovery by the plants, it is proposed according to a preferred embodiment to condition the culture substrate and/or the substrate mixture. In the present case, “conditioning” is understood to mean, in particular, a chemical optimization or adaptation of the culture substrate and/or the substrate mixture at the beginning of the plant culture. A first advantageous conditioning can advantageously be carried out by lowering the pH value. This is done, for example, by applying a suitable (plant-compatible) buffer to the culture substrate and/or the substrate mixture. Alternatively or additionally, the conditioning can be carried out by adding at least one substance which promotes the uptake of the at least one transition metal and/or semimetal in the plants. A particularly advantageous conditioning can be achieved by adding chelators (complexing agents) such as EDTA.

It is also advantageous if the hyperaccumulating plants are exposed to different culture conditions according to their growth phase ("phase-specific plant culture"). The phase-appropriate plant culture can take place in particular by moving the culture vessels to different positions within the vertical farming device.

The culture vessels are preferably moved automatically. For this purpose, the inventors propose a mobile shelf arrangement in the manner of a paternoster as a particularly suitable vertical farming device. Using a vertically arranged chain circulation system, the shelves with the culture vessels can run through different positions.

The different culture conditions relate in particular to temperature, air movement, humidity, lighting intensity, spectrum of lighting, duration of lighting and CO2 supply. For example, an increased temperature and atmospheric humidity (for example 37° C., 95% relative humidity) can be applied to germinate the seeds. In the case of a vertical farming device, which allows the culture vessels to be moved over different levels, the germination phase could take place, for example, on a lower level. In the subsequent growth phases, the plants in the culture vessels are then transported consecutively to higher floors, whereby the lighting can be increased step by step. The plants can be illuminated by artificial lighting and/or by natural sunlight. Lighting that supplements the natural sunlight, for example using LED lamps optimized for plant growth, can also be particularly useful in the winter months.

A phase-specific plant culture can alternatively or additionally include the application of one or more adjuvants at one or more points in time. Suitable auxiliaries are, in particular, chelators, fertilizers and/or herbicides.

In connection with optimizing the uptake of raw materials by the plants, it has also proven to be advantageous to use deionized water to water the plants.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the condition of the plants is monitored at intervals or permanently during cultivation. In this monitoring, preferably the habit of the plant (e.g. size, number and condition of the leaves, presence of spots or the like), the developmental state of the plant (e.g. flower head), the chemical composition of the plant sap (e.g. pH value of the plant sap or the concentration the raw materials intended for recovery) and/or the optical properties of the plant tissue (color, transmission). Such monitoring is preferably carried out automatically and by means of electronic sensors/detectors, so that an evaluation of the detected state can be carried out by means of a digital process. It is conceivable to use machine learning methods to monitor the condition of plants.

The cultivation can be optimized and an ideal harvest time can be determined by means of automated or manual monitoring of the condition of the plants. An ideal time for harvesting is the point in time during cultivation when the plant no longer absorbs the substances intended for recovery or only absorbs them at a reduced rate.

The vertical farming device is preferably housed in a closed housing, ie in particular in a room, plant culture cabinet, greenhouse or building. This prevents the environment from being contaminated with potentially toxic substances from the battery cells. Such a contamination could occur in open cultivation of the plants, for example, through wind discharge or in heavy rain through leaching.

The extraction of the at least one transition metal and/or semimetal from the harvested plants preferably includes incineration, with incineration particularly preferably representing the initial step. The "ashing" causes the destruction of organic substances (e.g. cellulose) by heating under the influence of oxygen, whereby the mineral components and thus the raw materials intended for recovery are retained. The ashing takes place according to usual methods in the presence of oxygen.

Alternatively or after the incineration, the at least one transition metal and/or semimetal can be extracted from the plants by dissolving them out using an acidic solution.

Another possibility proposed here and particularly preferred for extracting the at least one transition metal and/or semimetal from the plants is the electrochemical separation of the at least one transition metal and/or semimetal. The at least one transition metal provided for recovery is preferably nickel and/or manganese and/or cobalt. The semi-metal intended for recovery is preferably silicon.

• - Die Kulturpflanzenart Sonnenblume (Helianthus annuus), welche in ihren Sprossen insbesondere Cobalt und auch Mangan anzureichern vermag. Sonnenblumen können 30-45 % Cobalt aus einem Kultursubstrat aufnehmen.
• - Das aus Südosteuropa sowie dem Nahen und Mittleren Osten stammende MauerSteinkraut (Alyssum murale). Diese Art kann in Böden, welche etwa 30 bis 40 mmol Nickel pro Kilogramm enthalten, ohne Schädigungen wachsen. Bei der Veraschung können bis zu 20 % Nickel in der Asche vorhanden sein.

• - Die in Neukaledonien endemische Baumart Pycnandra acuminata, welche 20-25 % Nickel im Milchsaft anreichert.
• - Das unter anderem in den deutschen Alpen vorkommende Gebirgs-Hellerkraut (Thlaspi caerulescens), welches gleichfalls große Mengen Nickel anzureichern vermag (bis zu 20 % Nickel in der Asche).
• - Die Indische Schlangenwurzel (Rauwolfia serpentina), ein aus dem tropischen Asien stammender Strauch, welcher Cobalt aus dem Boden aufnehmen kann.

In connection with the invention, the hyperaccumulating plants are preferably plants selected from the species listed below:

• - The cultivated plant species sunflower (Helianthus annuus), which is able to accumulate cobalt and manganese in particular in its sprouts. Sunflowers can absorb 30-45% cobalt from a growing medium.
• - Alyssum murale, native to south-eastern Europe and the Near and Middle East. This species can grow without damage in soils containing about 30 to 40 mmol nickel per kilogram. When incinerated, up to 20% nickel can be present in the ash.

• - The tree species Pycnandra acuminata, endemic to New Caledonia, which accumulates 20-25% nickel in the latex.
• - The mountain Hellerkraut (Thlaspi caerulescens), which occurs in the German Alps, among other places, and which is also able to accumulate large amounts of nickel (up to 20% nickel in the ash).
• - Indian snakeroot (Rauwolfia serpentina), a shrub native to tropical Asia that can absorb cobalt from the soil.

Various types of grass, such as the reed glass (Phalaris arundinacea) can effectively absorb and accumulate silicon from the soil. This applies equally to horsetail species, such as field horsetail (Equisetum arvense).

A total of several hundred plant species have already been found that can absorb the substances mentioned (in particular transition metals or semimetals) with increased efficiency. The present invention is not limited to the use of the preferred plant species mentioned above, but encompasses all hyperaccumulating species which can be maintained under culture conditions and effectively remove transition metals and/or semimetals from the soil. This should also be noted It is possible that within a plant species capable of hyperaccumulation, there may be subspecies, varieties or cultivars that cannot absorb the substances mentioned, or cannot do so efficiently. What the hyperaccumulating species have in common is that they absorb metals, transition metals and/or semimetals more effectively through the roots, transport them into the shoots and store them in certain plant tissues than other plant species. The ability to accumulate such substances that are usually toxic to plants may be due to altered expression of genes that are also present in non-hyperaccumulating species. From this it can be concluded that the uptake of the toxic substances is not normally based on a mechanism that is only present in the hyperaccumulating species. Rather, the uptake appears to be based on the increased efficiency of ubiquitously available uptake pathways. In connection with the invention, it would therefore be conceivable and advantageous to improve plants with regard to their hyperaccumulating abilities by conventional or biotechnological breeding methods. Plants that already have hyperaccumulating abilities can serve as a starting point, with breeding increasing the efficiency of uptake. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable to first enable the hyper-accumulating abilities through breeding processing.

Ideally, in connection with the invention, plants are used which have a combination of the following properties: short generation cycles, accessibility for breeding and/or biotechnological modification, high biomass production and easy extractability of the metal.

Within the scope of the invention, an advantageous embodiment consists in using only one hyperaccumulating plant species in each of the culture vessels, so that from each of the culture vessels only plants which only accumulate a specific individual transition metal (e.g. only cobalt) or semimetal (e.g. silicon) can be harvested.

Alternatively, according to a further advantageous embodiment, it is proposed to cultivate two or more different hyperaccumulating plant species simultaneously in each of the culture vessels, so that plants which accumulate different transition metals and/or semimetals can be harvested from each of the culture vessels. At the same time, when selecting the plant combination, the space requirements of the plants can be taken into account. Such a favorable combination would be, for example, stonecrop and sunflower.

The present invention comprises the use of a hyper-accumulating plant for the recovery of metals and/or semi-metals from the powder of shredded batteries, the plant being cultivated on a mixture comprising the powder and a plant substrate, in particular a culture soil. The plants are preferably cultivated in a vertical farming device. Methods as outlined above are used to recover the metals and/or semi-metals from the powder of shredded batteries.

Likewise, the invention encompasses nickel and/or manganese and/or cobalt and/or silicon recovered from used battery cells, the recovery being accomplished using the methods detailed above.

Furthermore, a technical system for the recovery of metals and/or semi-metals from a powdered recycling material, which includes shredded battery cells or consists of shredded battery cells, using hyperaccumulating plants, is claimed. The technical system includes a shredding device for battery cells, a device for mixing the battery cells pulverized by shredding with a culture substrate and a vertical farming device in which plants can be cultivated in at least two levels, preferably three to 10 levels. Sensors are present in the vertical farming device, which enable automated monitoring of the plants to be cultivated, and a device which allows automated adjustment of the culture conditions of the plants to be cultivated. Furthermore, there is a large number of culture vessels which can be moved to different positions within the vertical farming device. The technical installation preferably includes a device for extracting metals and/or semi-metals from the plants which can be cultivated in the installation, so that the entire recovery process can take place within a single installation.

The explanations of the process can also be used in full for a more detailed description or characterization of the system.

• 1: eine Darstellung einer hyperakkumulierenden Pflanze
• 2: eine Darstellung einer Ausführungsform eines Vertical-Farming Systems.

The invention is to be explained and illustrated in more detail by way of example with the figures and embodiments described below. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples shown. They show schematically:

• 1 : a representation of a hyperaccumulating plant
• 2 : an illustration of an embodiment of a vertical farming system.

1 shows a schematic representation of a hyperaccumulating plant 1, which grows in a substrate mixture 3. In the case shown as an example, the substrate mixture 3 contains the metal aluminum (Al), the transition metals manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) and the semimetal silicon (Si). The metal, transition metals and metalloid come from shredded batteries. For this purpose, the battery powder was mixed with culture soil. One or more of the substances 15 shown can be taken up by a hyperaccumulating plant 1 via the roots and then transported to the leaves 12 via the shoot axis 11 . The substances 15 absorbed can be significantly enriched, which allows these raw materials 15 to be recovered in an economically viable manner. In the example shown, the nickel (Ni) is in a complex with the chelator EDTA (conditioner 20), which enhances uptake of the nickel. In order to achieve this effect, it can be advantageous to add such a chelator to the culture soil and/or the substrate mixture, which is also referred to here as “conditioning”.

2 FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a technical system 22 that is set up to carry out the method proposed here. The technical installation 22 is set up for the recovery of transition metals and/or semi-metals from a powdered recycling material using hyper-accumulating plants. First, a shredding device 2 for battery cells 7 is provided, with which powdered recycling material 17 can be produced. This powdered recycling material 17 is then mixed or mixed with a culture substrate 6 in a mixing device 8, with a substrate mixture 3 comprising the powdered recycling material 17 and the culture substrate 6 being produced. The substrate mixture 3 is transferred to a filling device 9 in which the substrate mixture 3 is filled into culture vessels 4 . The filling device 9 can also include a planting unit 21 for introducing a large number of seeds and/or seedlings of one or more hyperaccumulating plant species into the substrate mixture 3 and/or pre-cultivation unit 18, with the substrate mixture in the pre-cultivation unit 18 being Additives and the like can be provided. The culture vessels 4 prepared in this way can then be transferred to the vertical farming device 25 with which a large number of culture vessels 4 can be moved at different positions within the vertical farming device 25 .

2 12 further shows a schematic representation of an advantageous embodiment of a vertical farming device 25 in the manner of a paternoster camp in cross section. The vertical farming system 25 is preferably housed in a closed room (in 2 not shown). The hyper-accumulating plants 1 grow in culture vessels 4, which are located on movable shelves 5 and thus pass through different positions within the vertical farming device 25. The arrows symbolize the movement of the shelves 5, the movement being by means of a chain circulation system (in 2 not shown) is achieved. The culture vessel 4, which contains the substrate mixture and the seeds, is first placed on the lowest level at the position marked with the reference number 23 in the vertical farming device 25 by being placed on the shelf 5 and, if necessary, fastened. All the culture vessels 4 are then transported through the vertical farming system 25, as will be explained in more detail below. The harvest takes place at the latest when the culture vessel 4 has run through the complete cycle and has thus arrived back at the lowest level (at the position designated by reference number 24). It would also be possible to harvest the plants at an earlier point in time.

In the case of the vertical farming device 25 or its housing 14, sensors 10 are provided which enable automated monitoring of the plants to be cultivated. This can be achieved by an adjustment device 13, which enables an automated adjustment of the culture conditions of the plants to be cultivated.

At the in 2 In the example shown, the culture vessel 4 is removed from the vertical farming device 25 before harvesting and fed to a harvesting unit 19 with a separating device 16 .

It would also be conceivable to carry out the harvesting and/or separation without removing the vessel from the vertical farming device 25 .

The use of the vertical farming device 25 for the recovery of substances from used batteries is also explained in more detail in the exemplary embodiment reproduced below.

Example:

The embodiment example shows a recovery of cobalt from battery scrap using the sunflower. The powder resulting from the shredding of used 1.5 V AAA battery cells (the average particle size of the pul vers is smaller than 1 mm) is mixed in a ratio of 1 to 10 with a normal soil-based growing medium (peat-free). The resulting substrate mixture is then conditioned by lowering the pH to 6.5 and adding a chelator (EDTA). A culture vessel (length x width x height is 150 cm x 65 cm x 50 cm) is filled with the substrate mixture to just under the edge.

12 sunflower seeds are introduced into the culture vessel (seed depth 5 cm). The culture vessel is placed on the bottom floor of a vertical farming system (reference number 23 at 2 ). The vertical farming system includes, as in the in 2 illustrated example 8 positions or floors, which are formed by shelves. Each of the shelves can accommodate 14 culture vessels with a length of approx. 21 m. Like an industrial paternoster, the shelves can run through different positions within a vertical farming system by means of a chain circulation system, with an upward movement taking place on one side of the vertical farming system described here and a downward movement on the other side (see arrows in Fig 2 ; at the in 2 example shown, upward movement is on the left and downward movement is on the right). On each level there are two parallel rows of shelves along the opposite long sides of the vertical farming system. In contrast to a paternoster passenger elevator, however, the movement of the levels does not take place continuously, but at intervals, with the shelves being raised by one floor at each movement interval or lowered on the opposite side. Such a change in position can take place, for example, every 5 days, so that in the vertical farming system described here a complete orbital cycle takes 80 days. After 35 days the first top position (on one side of the vertical farming system) and after 40 days the second top position (on the opposite side of the vertical farming system) is reached. After 75 days, the vessels on the moveable shelves are in the lowest position (reference number 24 in 2 ), but compared to the starting position on the opposite side.

The shelves are preferably heatable. After sowing, the heating is switched on, with a temperature sensor in the culture vessel ensuring that a temperature of 20°C is maintained inside the culture vessel during the germination phase.

The storage floors also preferably include artificial lighting, with the LED lamps used for this purpose being located on the underside of each of the storage floors, so that the plants kept in the storage floor underneath can be illuminated. Since artificial lighting of the plants located on the top floor of the vertical farming system cannot be provided in this way, an additional (non-movable) lighting device, for example on the ceiling of the room, can be useful.
The seedlings appear after about 5 - 12 days, when they are on the second or third tier. After the seed has sprouted, the additional artificial lighting can be switched on.

The plants may only start flowering after they have already passed the upper floors of the vertical farming system. In order to increase the growth of the plants and thus the uptake of cobalt from the substrate, the temperature in the culture vessels can be increased to 25°C during the main growth phase.

A high leaf mass is aimed for in order to recover the cobalt. Buds are not required to fully develop or mature. The plants are harvested 65 to 75 days after sowing, with the optimal harvest time being determined by analyzing the plant sap and/or by optical sensors.

After harvesting the aerial parts of the plants, they are incinerated. The cobalt can be extracted electrochemically after the ash has been digested.

The culture vessels are emptied and prepared for the next cycle.

reference list

1

plant

2

shredding device

3

substrate mix

4

culture vessel

5

shelf

6

growing medium

7

battery cell

8th

mixing device

9

filling device

10

sensor

11

shoot axis

12

leaf

13

adjustment device

14

housing

15

(Raw material

16

separator

17

recycled material

18

cultivation unit

19

harvest unit

20

conditioner

21

planting unit

22

investment

23

Marked position

24

Lower level position

25

Vertical farming device

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 0993510 B1 [0003]
• CN101372727 [0004]
• US5917117 [0005]
• WO 2012103651 [0006]
• EP 2670707 [0006]

Claims (13)

Method for recovering at least one transition metal and/or semimetal from a powdery recycling material which comprises crushed battery cells (7) or consists of crushed battery cells, using hyperaccumulating plants (1), with the steps: - Provision of the powdered recycling material (17), - Provision of a culture substrate (6), - Production of a substrate mixture (3) comprising the pulverized recycling material (17) and the culture substrate (6), - Providing a culture vessel (4) and filling the culture vessel (4) with the substrate mixture (3), - introducing a large number of seeds and/or seedlings of one or more hyperaccumulating plant species into the substrate mixture (3), - cultivating the plants originating from the seeds and/or seedlings in the culture vessel (4), - harvesting of plants, - Extraction of the at least one transition metal and/or semimetal from the harvested plants, the plants being cultivated in a vertical farming device (25). procedure after claim 1 , wherein the culture substrate (6) and/or the substrate mixture (3) by lowering the pH value and/or by adding at least one substance which promotes the uptake of the at least one transition metal and/or semimetal in the plants, is conditioned. procedure after claim 1 or 2 , whereby the plants are exposed to different culture conditions depending on their growth phase. procedure after claim 3 , wherein the culture conditions include temperature, air movement, humidity, illumination intensity, spectrum of illumination, illumination duration, and/or CO2 supply. procedure after claim 3 or 4 wherein one or more adjuvants are applied at one or more times, the adjuvants comprising chelating agents, fertilizers and/or herbicides. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the condition of the plants is monitored at intervals or permanently during cultivation, and wherein the monitoring of the habit of the plant, the developmental state of the plant, the chemical composition of the plant sap and / or the optical properties of the Plant tissue are detected. procedure after claim 6 , wherein the condition of the plants is automatically monitored and a suitable harvest time is determined based on the monitoring of the condition of the plants. procedure after claim 6 or 7 , whereby a suitable harvest time is determined by monitoring the condition of the plants. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the extraction of the at least one transition metal and/or semimetal from the plants comprises incineration, dissolving by means of an acidic solution and/or electrochemical deposition of the at least one transition metal and/or semimetal. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the hyperaccumulating plant (1) is sunflower (Helianthus annuus), wall alyssum (Alyssum murale), Pycnandra acuminata, mountain penthalis (Thlaspi caerulescens), Indian snakeroot (Rauwolfia serpentina), Reed glass (Phalaris arundinacea) or field horsetail (Equisetum arvense). Use of a hyper-accumulating plant (1) for recovering transition metals and/or semi-metals from the powder of shredded battery cells (7), the plant (1) being cultivated on a mixture comprising the powder and a plant substrate, and the cultivation of the plants in a Vertical farming device (25) takes place. Nickel and/or manganese and/or cobalt and/or silicon recovered from used battery cells (7), the recovery using the method according to one or more of Claims 1 until 10 he follows. Technical installation (22) for the recovery of transition metals and/or semi-metals from a powdered recycling material, which comprises shredded battery cells or consists of shredded battery cells, using hyper-accumulating plants, comprising - a shredding device (2) for battery cells (7), - a mixing device (8) for mixing the battery cells (7) pulverized by shredding with a culture substrate (6), - a vertical farming device (25) in which plants can be cultivated on at least two levels, - sensors (10) present in the vertical farming device (25), which enable automated monitoring of the plants to be cultivated, - an adjusting device (13), which enables automated adjustment of the culture conditions of the plants to be cultivated, - a large number of culture vessels (4), which can be moved to different positions within the vertical farming device (25).

Images