WO2025005665A1 - Method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary battery - Google Patents
Method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary battery Download PDFInfo
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- WO2025005665A1 WO2025005665A1 PCT/KR2024/008917 KR2024008917W WO2025005665A1 WO 2025005665 A1 WO2025005665 A1 WO 2025005665A1 KR 2024008917 W KR2024008917 W KR 2024008917W WO 2025005665 A1 WO2025005665 A1 WO 2025005665A1
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- Prior art keywords
- electrolyte
- crushed material
- lithium
- solvent
- lithium secondary
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- 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
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09B—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B09B3/00—Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
- B09B3/30—Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless involving mechanical treatment
- B09B3/35—Shredding, crushing or cutting
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09B—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B09B3/00—Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
- B09B3/80—Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless involving an extraction step
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09B—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B09B2101/00—Type of solid waste
- B09B2101/15—Electronic waste
- B09B2101/16—Batteries
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- 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
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
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- 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
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- 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
- Y02W30/52—Mechanical processing of waste for the recovery of materials, e.g. crushing, shredding, separation or disassembly
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- 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
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a wet chemical pretreatment method for a spent lithium secondary battery reprocessing process, which not only recovers a high yield of lithium by extracting an electrolyte containing lithium from the shredded waste of a spent secondary battery by a chemical method while preventing fire and explosion that may occur when an undischarged cell is shredded, but also protects the atmospheric environment of a workplace by removing odor caused by the removal of the electrolyte, and recovers high-purity, high-yield black mass from the shredded waste, thereby satisfying environmental friendliness, carbon neutrality, and ESG.
- modules and packs made by stacking tens or hundreds of cells have several to tens of undischarged cells due to errors in the BMS (Battery Management System) or cell abnormalities even when forced electrical discharge is performed. These cells can cause fire and explosion during reprocessing or crushing, making it difficult to create work efficiency and automated lines.
- BMS Battery Management System
- a high-temperature firing method and a wet method using water washing are used.
- Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0052761 discloses an underwater crushing process as a recycling device and method for waste lithium secondary batteries, which enables the recycling process to proceed quickly without requiring land and equipment for a discharge space by disassembling and recycling waste lithium secondary batteries directly into a recycling process without going through a discharge process.
- a pretreatment method for a waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing process which recovers black mass through secondary crushing and tertiary crushing, transport of crushing conveyor belts using a shredder in water, drying in a kiln or rotary kiln, and classification.
- Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0126946 relates to a pretreatment method for a waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing process using water washing and sulfuric acid, and discloses a black mass extraction process through processes such as discharging, crushing, magnetic separation, classification, water washing, gravity separation, sulfuric acid solution peeling, and classification.
- a pretreatment method for a waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing process comprises the steps of crushing waste lithium secondary battery waste, such as waste lithium secondary battery electrolyte, separator, and positive and negative electrode composite fragments, into a size of 5 to 15 mm, washing the fragments with water to remove the electrolyte, separating the fragments from which the electrolyte has been removed to remove the separator, and treating the fragments from which the electrolyte and separator have been removed with a sulfuric acid solution having a concentration of 1 to 4 M to recover black mass.
- waste lithium secondary battery waste such as waste lithium secondary battery electrolyte, separator, and positive and negative electrode composite fragments
- Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0077108 relates to a method for a waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing process using multi-stage sintering, and discloses a black mass extraction process through discharging, crushing, pulverizing, sintering, classification, and magnetic separation.
- the present invention discloses a process for precipitating and discharging in brine, a process for primary crushing using a shredder cutter, a process for crushing using a cut crusher/hammer crusher/roll crusher, a process for crushing using one selected from the group consisting of a roll mill, a ball mill, a jet mill, a planetary mill, and an attrition mill, a process for multi-stage calcination ranging from 100 degrees to 1,000 degrees, a process for crushing the calcined crushed material in a lab and classifying it using a sieve, and a process for extracting black mass through a process of a magnetic separation step.
- the electrolyte in order to prevent explosion and fire due to crushing and pulverization of undischarged batteries for waste secondary battery processing, the electrolyte is hydrophilic and mixes with water, which not only causes water pollution, but also causes problems with the efficiency of separation rate and purity because the binder (PVDF, Polyvinylidene fluoride) increases the binding force due to the high temperature during drying.
- PVDF Polyvinylidene fluoride
- the quality of the air environment cannot be guaranteed due to the odor of the electrolyte, and the process is complicated and exposes the user to the risk of water pollution caused by the brine for discharge and sulfate.
- the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems. Another object is to provide a method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries using a chemical method.
- waste lithium secondary battery finished products are crushed and pulverized to make shreds and extract black mass.
- undischarged cells are exposed to fire and explosion, and since they are soaked in electrolyte, the shreds turn into cakes when crushed and pulverized, making efficient separation impossible, and there were limitations in extracting high-purity black mass. Therefore, a process of extraction through drying, washing, and calcination is used to remove electrolyte and polymer raw materials.
- acetone gas which is a unique property of lithium secondary battery electrolyte
- KILN incineration method
- a high-temperature treatment process of 400 to 1,000 degrees is performed in a rotary kiln to remove the binder used to attach the electrolyte, separator, and positive active material of the secondary battery positive plate and the carbon of the negative plate.
- the aluminum plates of the high-temperature treated shredded material in the rotary kiln go through a crushing and pulverizing process using a mill in an oxidized state. At this time, the oxidized aluminum plates are also pulverized by the mill process.
- the method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries sequentially separates the waste secondary batteries by removing the electrolyte through a chemical method that does not change the properties of each raw material, and then crushing and separating them, thereby simplifying the complex process and improving productivity in a way that satisfies the environment, carbon neutrality, and ESG, thereby providing a preprocessing method for the waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing process consisting of an automated line.
- a method for reprocessing a spent lithium secondary battery including the steps of: first crushing a spent secondary battery containing an electrolyte into 8 to 15 mm pieces; extracting an electrolyte containing lithium from the first crushed particles using a solvent in an extraction reactor while removing a separator using buoyancy; drying the first crushed particles in a dryer; removing iron components from the crushed particles through a magnetic separation process; second crushing the particles from which the iron components have been removed into 5 to 8 mm pieces; separating a copper plate from the second crushed particles using a separator; third crushing the particles from which the copper plates have been separated into 1 to 5 mm pieces to separate an aluminum plate and a cathode active material from the particles; extracting a black mass containing the aluminum plate and the cathode active material; and separating a black mass contained in a solvent used in the lithium-containing electrolyte extraction step using a separator.
- the solvent introduced into the extraction reactor in the step of extracting the electrolyte is methanol, ethanol, tetrachloromethane, trichloromethane, dichloromethane, pentachloroethane, 1,1,1,2 tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2,2 tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2 trichloroethane, 1,1,1 trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, cis 1,2 dichloroethene, trans 1,2 dichloroethene. It may be at least one selected from the group consisting of 1,1 dichloroethene, 1,2 dichloroethane, 1,1 dichloroethane, and NMP (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinone).
- the solvent used in the step of extracting the electrolyte can be mixed at a ratio of 0.5 to 10 times the weight of the crushed material.
- the temperature of the extraction reactor in the step of extracting the electrolyte may be 10 to 150°C.
- the method may further include a step of fractionating the solvent containing the electrolyte into a solvent and an electrolyte containing lithium (Li) through a fractionating separator; and a step of re-supplying the fractionated solvent to the electrolyte extraction step.
- the step of drying the primary crushed material can be performed at a temperature of 20°C to 200°C.
- lithium secondary battery waste is extracted from the scrap in a chemical wet process in a reactor containing a solvent through an automated process, thereby increasing economic efficiency through lithium reprocessing and removing the odor of the electrolyte, thereby protecting the working environment and the atmospheric environment from the odor of the electrolyte.
- the scrap from which the electrolyte and lithium are extracted can be efficiently crushed and pulverized, thereby having the advantage of extracting high yield and high purity black mass.
- the electrolyte and solvent containing lithium extracted in the electrolyte extraction process can be separated, recovered, and reused to increase cost efficiency, and the electrolyte containing lithium has an advantage in that it can create additional profits through reprocessing. That is, after crushing waste lithium secondary batteries, the electrolyte is extracted in a reactor, and after the electrolyte extraction, the wet lithium secondary battery crushed matter is dried in a process to remove the odor of the electrolyte, and at the same time, crushing and separation are performed quickly and efficiently, and the solvent used in the electrolyte extraction has an advantage in that it can extract black mass that is reused through reprocessing.
- Figure 1 is a flow chart of a method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries related to the present invention.
- Figure 2 is a photograph of waste lithium secondary battery fragments related to the present invention.
- Figure 3 is a photograph of a separation membrane separated from the primary crushed material related to the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a photograph of a third crushed battery fragment related to the present invention.
- Figure 5 is a photograph of a separated and extracted lithium electrolyte related to the present invention.
- Figure 6 is a photograph of a separated black mass related to the present invention.
- the present invention relates to a wet chemical process for extracting high-yield, high-purity black mass by first crushing and pulverizing spent lithium secondary batteries containing electrolyte, and processing the crushed materials from which the electrolyte is extracted, and recovering the electrolyte including lithium with a high yield.
- spent lithium secondary batteries containing electrolyte are first crushed, the electrolyte is wetted in the crushed materials, and the crushed materials turn into a cake by the electrolyte, so it is difficult to extract high-purity black mass and high-yield black mass.
- the electrolyte mainly uses an aromatic organic solvent having a ketone structure, such as diethyl carbonate (DEC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC), there has been a difficulty in securing an air environment in the workplace due to the odor of the electrolyte during crushing and pulverization.
- DEC diethyl carbonate
- DMC dimethyl carbonate
- a pretreatment process for recycling a lithium secondary battery whose life has ended (EoL) is disclosed, which effectively crushes and pulverizes a spent lithium secondary battery containing an electrolyte by using a chemical method, to extract high-quality black mass with high purity and high separation rate and an electrolyte containing lithium.
- it is a process for recovering black mass and electrolyte containing lithium through a low-temperature chemical wet method while preventing fire and explosion caused by undischarged cells during the first crushing, and provides an automated process for extracting lithium and black mass through a chemical process that satisfies environmental friendliness, carbon neutrality, and ESG.
- a method for efficiently separating the main components of a spent lithium secondary battery, such as a pouch packaging or can, an electrolyte, a separator, aluminum as a positive electrode plate and a positive electrode active material, and copper as a negative electrode plate and a negative electrode active material, during the first crushing for reprocessing of a spent lithium secondary battery according to the present invention, thereby preventing fire and explosion due to undischarged cells, and efficiently separating the main components of a spent lithium secondary battery, such as a pouch packaging or can, an electrolyte, a separator, and a positive electrode plate, and a negative electrode active material, through an electrolyte extraction step.
- the spent lithium secondary battery regeneration process according to an embodiment of the present invention can ensure safety against fire and explosion, etc., it is possible to perform a continuous process, and thus has the advantage of sealing the machines for all processes to prevent dust and air pollution, separating and extracting only black mass, and improving purity and separation amount.
- FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries related to the present invention.
- a method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
- the above-mentioned waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing method comprises the steps of: first crushing waste secondary batteries containing electrolyte into 8 to 15 mm (S110); extracting lithium-containing electrolyte from the first crushed waste using a solvent in an extraction reactor while removing a separator using buoyancy (S120); drying the first crushed waste in a dryer (S130); removing iron components from the crushed waste through a magnetic separation process (S140); second crushing the crushed waste from which the iron components have been removed into 5 to 8 mm (S150); separating copper plates from the second crushed waste using a separator (S160); third crushing the crushed waste from which the copper plates have been separated into 1 to 5 mm (S170) to separate cathode active material from the aluminum plates; and removing black mass containing the aluminum plates and cathode active material. It is performed including a step of extracting (S180) and a step of separating (S190) the black mass included in the solvent used in the step of extracting the electrolyte containing lithium using
- the step of crushing the first crushed material is crushed using a shredder, and the first to third crushings are crushed into gradually smaller sizes.
- the step of drying the first crushed material is performed at a temperature of 20°C to 160°C. At this time, it can be performed using a dryer such as a kiln furnace, a vacuum dryer, a thermal dryer, or a general dryer.
- the binder PVDF
- the binder can further increase the bonding strength between the aluminum plate, positive electrode active material, and black mass, so the drying temperature is limited to 20 to 160°C.
- FIG. 2 is a photograph of waste lithium secondary battery shreds related to the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a photograph of a separator separated from the first shreds related to the present invention
- FIG. 4 is a photograph of the third shredded battery shreds related to the present invention.
- the solvent introduced into the extraction reactor in the step of extracting the electrolyte is methanol, ethanol, tetrachloromethane, trichloromethane, dichloromethane, pentachloroethane, 1,1,1,2 tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2,2 tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2 trichloroethane, 1,1,1 trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, cis 1,2 dichloroethene, trans 1,2 dichloroethene, It may be at least one selected from the group consisting of 1,1 dichloroethene, 1,2 dichloroethane, 1,1 dichloroethane, and NMP (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinone). Depending on the solvent used, ignition can be prevented in advance by additionally purging with nitrogen during electrolyte extraction.
- the solvent used in the step of extracting the electrolyte may be mixed at a ratio of 0.5 to 10 times the weight of the crushed material. If the amount of the solvent is less than 0.5 times the weight of the crushed material, the solvent may be completely absorbed by the separator of the crushed material, so that it simply becomes a cake in a wet state, making it difficult to extract the electrolyte. If the amount of the solvent is more than 10 times the weight, there is a problem of excessive cost.
- the temperature of the extraction reactor for extracting the electrolyte from the waste lithium secondary battery scrap is 10 to 150°C for 2 to 30 minutes
- the process of transporting the electrolyte while stirring with a stirring machine such as a screw or a screw, or transporting the electrolyte while spraying the electrolyte may be performed by using a machine (line, batch, etc.) that combines an impact tool using vibration or ultrasonic waves.
- the binder (PVDF) may melt, and considering the boiling point of the solvent, it is preferable to set it higher than 10°C.
- the solvent containing the electrolyte is fractionated into a solvent and an electrolyte containing lithium (Li) through a fractionating separator (S123), and the fractionated solvent is re-supplied to the electrolyte extraction step (S125) so that the solvent can be reused. More specifically, in a solvent in which lithium and the electrolyte are mixed, the solvent or a mixed solvent of two or more and the electrolyte containing lithium are separated from the electrolyte containing lithium using a fractionating separator or a layer separator at a temperature range of 20 to 150°C.
- the electrolyte extraction temperature is limited to 20 to 150°C.
- the spent lithium secondary battery waste containing the electrolyte is crushed and pulverized. This is the step of crushing the spent lithium secondary battery waste containing the electrolyte.
- the spent lithium secondary batteries are crushed into 8 to 15 mm sizes using a shredder.
- the 8 to 15 mm crushed materials are fed into an extraction reactor with 2.5 times the weight ratio of the crushed materials through a screw for 10 minutes, and a mixing process is added to increase the efficiency of the reaction to extract the electrolyte.
- the separator is automatically separated and the separated separator is removed.
- the above extracted crushed material was sent to a dedicated drying machine and dried. At this time, the drying hot air was 30°C to 45°C. If the drying temperature is 20°C or lower, the drying speed of the solvent is low, making it difficult to achieve the target processing amount per hour. Even if the drying temperature is 45°C or higher, the remaining binder, PVDF, did not affect the separation rate and purity of aluminum and the cathode material due to the increase in binder caused by heat curing.
- Table 1 shows the results of measuring the production yield and separation rate according to the drying temperature of the crushed material. Referring to Table 1, it can be seen that the separation rate and purity at 30 to 45 degrees are both 99%.
- the residual separator was removed from the dried shreds using a separator to obtain waste secondary battery shreds.
- the obtained shreds were subjected to a belt magnetic separator process to obtain negative and positive electrode shreds and pulverized products from which iron components such as battery electrodes and cans were removed.
- the crushed material from which the electrolyte, separator, can, and electrodes were removed was crushed into 5 to 8 mm pieces through a secondary shredder, and then the copper plate was removed through a separator.
- the aluminum and positive active material were crushed into 1 to 5 mm pieces through a pin mill process, and the aluminum and positive active material were easily separated.
- the separated aluminum plate, positive active material, and negative active material were passed through an 80 to 120 mesh vibrating sieve to separate the aluminum plate, and the black mass with a purity of 99% or more could be separated and extracted.
- a photograph of the separated and extracted lithium electrolyte is shown in Fig. 5
- a photograph of the separated and extracted black mass is shown in Fig. 6.
- the electrolyte and solvent containing lithium obtained through the electrolyte extraction process contain some black mass, which can be separated using a centrifuge.
- the electrolyte and solvent containing lithium were separated using the separator. Afterwards, the separated black mass cake was sent to a dryer to perform a drying process.
- the mixed solvent containing the electrolyte was sent to a fractionator and fractionated at a temperature of 35 to 45°C to separate the solvent and the electrolyte containing lithium (Li).
- the Li content of the extracted electrolyte was 90% of the ratio input during battery manufacturing and varied depending on the amount of reaction solvent input.
- the recovery rate of the solvent recovered using the fractionator was 98%, and the recovered separated solvent was sent back to the electrolyte extraction reactor and recycled.
- One embodiment of the present invention can be used in the technical field of reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries to recover lithium at a high yield by extracting an electrolyte containing lithium from shredded waste secondary batteries by a chemical method.
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Abstract
Description
본 발명은 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리 공정을 위한 화학적 습식 전처리 방법(Wet Chemical Method)으로 미 방전된 셀의 파쇄 시 발생할 수 있는 화재 및 폭발을 방지하면서 폐 이차전지의 파쇄물에서 화학적 방법으로 리튬이 포함된 포함된 전해액을 추출하여 고수율의 리튬을 회수할 뿐 아니라 전해액 제거로 인한 냄새를 제거하여 작업장 대기 환경을 보호하고 파쇄물에서 고순도, 고수율 블랙 매스를 회수하기 위한 친환경, 탄소중립, ESG를 만족시키는 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리 방법에 관한 것이다.The present invention relates to a wet chemical pretreatment method for a spent lithium secondary battery reprocessing process, which not only recovers a high yield of lithium by extracting an electrolyte containing lithium from the shredded waste of a spent secondary battery by a chemical method while preventing fire and explosion that may occur when an undischarged cell is shredded, but also protects the atmospheric environment of a workplace by removing odor caused by the removal of the electrolyte, and recovers high-purity, high-yield black mass from the shredded waste, thereby satisfying environmental friendliness, carbon neutrality, and ESG.
전기 자동차, 모빌리티, 에너지저장장치(ESS, Energy Storage System)등 대용량의 전기가 필요로 하는 전기 장치와 기계의 등장으로 이에 맞춰 리튬 이차전지도 대용량의 셀이 출현하게 되었지만 이를 운반 및 운용의 효율성을 높이기 위하여 셀을 적층하거나 패키징화하여 모듈 (MODULE) 또는 팩(PACK)으로 만들어 대용량의 전기가 필요하는 전기 장치와 기계 등에 채용, 적용하고 있는 상황이며 특히 전기 자동차가 이를 가장 잘 보여주는 예이다. With the advent of electric devices and machines that require large amounts of electricity, such as electric vehicles, mobility, and energy storage systems (ESS), large-capacity lithium secondary batteries have also emerged. However, in order to increase the efficiency of transportation and operation, the cells are stacked or packaged to form modules or packs, which are then adopted and applied to electric devices and machines that require large amounts of electricity. Electric vehicles are the best example of this.
친환경, 탄소 중립, ESG를 만족하는 기술을 요구하는 트랜드의 환경에서는 더욱 다양한 대용량의 전기가 필요로 하는 전기장치와 기계 장치가 출현할 것이며 배터리의 활용이 급속히 증가하는 경향이 있을 것으로 사료된다. 이러한 경향은 배터리도 셀을 적층 하거나 패키징화 하여 다양한 모듈과 팩으로 제조 보급되어질 것이다. 과거에는 소형의 전자장치에 소형의 배터리를 사용하는 환경 이였다면 현재는 고용량을 위한 대형의 배터리와 전기장치 및 기계장치의 출현으로 모듈 또는 팩으로 채용되어지고 있는데 이러한 모듈과 팩에 사용된 폐 리튬 이차전지의 재처리를 위한 새로운 재처리 공정 기술을 요구하는 환경에 처해 있다. 팩과 모듈은 수십개에서 수백개의 셀을 직렬연결로 적층 하는데 이는 수십볼트에서 수백 볼트의 전류가 충전되어 있다. 이러한 팩과 모듈을 재처리 하기 위해서는 팩과 모듈의 잔존한 전기를 방전기로 강제 방전을 하고 있다. 그러나 수십, 수백의 셀을 적층하여 만든 모듈과 팩은 강제적인 전기적 방전을 수행하더라도 BMS(Battery Management System)의 오류 또는 셀의 이상으로 인하여 미 방전 셀이 수개에서 수십개가 발생하게 된다. 이러한 셀은 재 처리 파, 분쇄 시 화재 및 폭발의 원인이 되므로 작업의 효율성과 자동화 라인을 만드는데 어려움을 만드는 요인이 되고 있으며 이를 해결하고 전해액 냄새를 동시에 해결하고자 고온의 소성방법과 수세를 이용한 습식 방법을 사용하는 경우가 있다.In an environment where eco-friendly, carbon-neutral, and ESG-compliant technologies are required, a wider variety of electrical devices and mechanical devices that require large amounts of electricity will emerge, and the use of batteries is expected to increase rapidly. This trend will also lead to batteries being manufactured and distributed as various modules and packs by stacking or packaging cells. In the past, small batteries were used for small electronic devices, but now, with the emergence of large batteries for high capacity and electrical and mechanical devices, they are being adopted as modules or packs, and we are in an environment that requires a new reprocessing process technology for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries used in these modules and packs. Packs and modules are stacked with tens to hundreds of cells in series, which are charged with tens to hundreds of volts of current. In order to reprocess these packs and modules, the remaining electricity in the packs and modules is forcibly discharged with a discharger. However, modules and packs made by stacking tens or hundreds of cells have several to tens of undischarged cells due to errors in the BMS (Battery Management System) or cell abnormalities even when forced electrical discharge is performed. These cells can cause fire and explosion during reprocessing or crushing, making it difficult to create work efficiency and automated lines. To solve this problem and simultaneously resolve the electrolyte odor, there are cases where a high-temperature firing method and a wet method using water washing are used.
대한민국 공개 특허 제10-2020-0052761호는 폐 리튬 이차전지의 방전공정을 거치지 않고 바로 재활용 공정으로 투입하는 분해 및 재활용함으로써 방전공간을 위한 부지와 설비가 불필요하고 신속하게 재활용 공정을 진행할 수 있는 폐 리튬 이차전지의 재활용 장치 및 방법으로 수중 파쇄 공정을 개시하고 있다.Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0052761 discloses an underwater crushing process as a recycling device and method for waste lithium secondary batteries, which enables the recycling process to proceed quickly without requiring land and equipment for a discharge space by disassembling and recycling waste lithium secondary batteries directly into a recycling process without going through a discharge process.
수중에서 파쇄기(shredder)를 이용하여 파쇄 컨베어 벨트 이송 소성로나 로터리 킬른(rotary kiln) 건조. 2차파쇄 3차파쇄 분급을 통하여 블랙 매스를 회수하는 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리공정의 전처리방법을 개시하고 있다.A pretreatment method for a waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing process is disclosed, which recovers black mass through secondary crushing and tertiary crushing, transport of crushing conveyor belts using a shredder in water, drying in a kiln or rotary kiln, and classification.
대한민국 공개 특허 제10-2012-0126946호는 수세와 황산을 이용하여 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리 공정을 위한 전처리 방법에 관한 것으로서 방전, 파쇄, 자력선별, 분급, 수세, 비중분리, 황산 용액 박리, 분급 등의 공정을 통하여 블랙 매스 추출공정을 개시하고 있다.Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0126946 relates to a pretreatment method for a waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing process using water washing and sulfuric acid, and discloses a black mass extraction process through processes such as discharging, crushing, magnetic separation, classification, water washing, gravity separation, sulfuric acid solution peeling, and classification.
폐 리튬 이차전지 전해질, 분리막, 양, 음극 복합체 파쇄물의 폐 리튬 이차전지 폐기물을 5 내지 15 mm의 크기로 파쇄하는 단계를 거쳐 파쇄물을 물로 세척하여 전해질을 제거한 후, 전해질이 제거된 파쇄물을 비중분리하여 분리막을 제거하고 전해질 및 분리막이 제거된 파쇄물을 1~4 M 농도의 황산 용액으로 처리하여 블랙 매스를 회수하는 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리공정의 전처리방법을 개시하고 있다.A pretreatment method for a waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing process is disclosed, which comprises the steps of crushing waste lithium secondary battery waste, such as waste lithium secondary battery electrolyte, separator, and positive and negative electrode composite fragments, into a size of 5 to 15 mm, washing the fragments with water to remove the electrolyte, separating the fragments from which the electrolyte has been removed to remove the separator, and treating the fragments from which the electrolyte and separator have been removed with a sulfuric acid solution having a concentration of 1 to 4 M to recover black mass.
대한민국 공개 특허 제10-2020-0077108호는 다단 소성을 이용하여 폐리튬 이차전지 재처리 공정을 위한 방법에 관한 것으로서 방전, 파쇄, 분쇄, 소성, 분급, 자력선별을 통하여 블랙 매스 추출 공정을 개시하고 있다.Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0077108 relates to a method for a waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing process using multi-stage sintering, and discloses a black mass extraction process through discharging, crushing, pulverizing, sintering, classification, and magnetic separation.
염수에 침전 방전시키는 공정, Shredder cutter를 이용하여 1차 파쇄하고, Cut crusher/Hammer crusher/ Roll crusher를 이용하 파쇄하는 공정, 롤밀(roll-mill), 볼밀(ball-mill), 제트 밀(jet-mill), 유성밀(planetary-mill) 및 어트리션밀(attrition-mill)로 이루어지는 군으로부터 선택된 1종 으로 분쇄하는 공정, 100도~1,000도에 이르는 다단 소성의 공정. 소성된 분쇄물을 미로 파쇄하여 채를 이용하여 분급하는 공정, 자력 선별 단계의 공정을 통하여 블랙 매스를 추출하는 공정을 개시하고 있다.The present invention discloses a process for precipitating and discharging in brine, a process for primary crushing using a shredder cutter, a process for crushing using a cut crusher/hammer crusher/roll crusher, a process for crushing using one selected from the group consisting of a roll mill, a ball mill, a jet mill, a planetary mill, and an attrition mill, a process for multi-stage calcination ranging from 100 degrees to 1,000 degrees, a process for crushing the calcined crushed material in a lab and classifying it using a sieve, and a process for extracting black mass through a process of a magnetic separation step.
그러나 종래의 전처리 방법의 경우 폐 이차전지 처리를 위한 미 방전된 배터리의 파, 분쇄로 인한 폭발 및 화재를 방지하기 위하여 배터리 셀을 수중에서 파쇄하는 공정의 경우 전해액이 친수성(Hydrophilic)을 가지고 있어 물과 혼합되므로 수질 오염의 문제가 발생할 뿐 아니라 건조 시 고온의 온도로 인하여 바인더(PVDF, Polyvinylidene fluoride)가 결착력을 높여 주므로 분리율과 순도의 효율성에 문제가 발생하며 염수에 침전 방전시킨 후 파, 분쇄와 분급을 거치는 경우 전해액 냄새로 인한 대기 환경의 질을 담보할 수 없으며 공정이 복잡하고 방전용 염수와 황산염에 따른 또 다른 수질오염의 위험에 노출되고 있다. 고온 소성의 경우 고온으로 인한 알루미늄 극판의 산화, 고가의 리튬의 산화 손실에 따른 경제적 손실 및 CO2의 발생 등 또 다른 경제적 손실과 환경 오염을 유발할 수 있다. 또한 종래의 공정은 복잡하고 대기환경, 수질환경, 탄소 중립을 기본으로 한 ESG 만족의 기술 공정이라 화두에 답을 내 놓지 못하고 있다. 그러므로 현장에서 미 방전 리튬 이차전지에 대한 폭발 및 화재 방지가 가능하고 공정이 단순하며 고분리율, 고순도 블랙 매스 추출이 가능하면서 고가 리튬 회수율이 높은 친환경, 탄소중립, ESG를 만족시키는 기술 공정 개발이 필요한 실정이다.However, in the case of conventional pretreatment methods, in order to prevent explosion and fire due to crushing and pulverization of undischarged batteries for waste secondary battery processing, the electrolyte is hydrophilic and mixes with water, which not only causes water pollution, but also causes problems with the efficiency of separation rate and purity because the binder (PVDF, Polyvinylidene fluoride) increases the binding force due to the high temperature during drying. In addition, in the case of precipitation and discharge in brine and then crushing, pulverization, and classification, the quality of the air environment cannot be guaranteed due to the odor of the electrolyte, and the process is complicated and exposes the user to the risk of water pollution caused by the brine for discharge and sulfate. In the case of high-temperature calcination, it can cause other economic losses and environmental pollution, such as oxidation of aluminum plates due to high temperatures, economic losses due to oxidation loss of expensive lithium, and CO2 generation. In addition, the conventional process is complex and does not provide an answer to the question of whether it is a technology process that satisfies ESG based on the atmospheric environment, water quality environment, and carbon neutrality. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a technology process that is environmentally friendly, carbon neutral, and ESG-satisfying, capable of preventing explosions and fires in undischarged lithium secondary batteries in the field, has a simple process, enables high separation rate and high purity black mass extraction, and has a high recovery rate of expensive lithium.
본 발명은 전술한 문제 및 다른 문제를 해결하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 또 다른 목적은 화학적 방법을 이용한 폐 리튬 이차전지의 재처리 방법을 제공하는 것이다. The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems. Another object is to provide a method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries using a chemical method.
종래의 폐 리튬 이차전지 완제품의 파쇄 및 분쇄를 통하여 파쇄물로 만들어 블랙 매스로 추출하는데 이때 파쇄 시 미 방전된 셀에 의하여 화재와 폭발에 노출되어 있으며 전해액에 젖어 있어 파쇄 및 분쇄 시 분쇄물이 케이크화 되어 있어 효율적인 분리가 불가능 할 뿐 아니라 고순도의 블랙 매스를 추출하는데 한계가 있었다. 따라서 전해액 및 고분자 원재료를 제거하기 위해 건조, 수세, 소성을 통하여 추출하는 공정을 사용하고 있다. 건조방법의 경우 파, 분쇄 시 리튬 이차전지 전해액 고유의 물성인 아세톤 가스 발생으로 인하여 공장의 대기환경오염으로 작업자의 건강에 심대한 악 영향을 미치며 수세로 인한 공정은 수질오염을 방지하기 위한 추가 환경설비와 운용비용이 발생하게 된다. 소각방법(KILN)의 경우 전해액, 분리막, 이차전지 양극판의 양극 활물질과 음극판의 카본을 부착하기 위해 사용했던 바인더를 제거하기 위하여 로터리 킬른(ROTARY KILN) 내에서 400~1,000도의 고온 처리 공정 과정을 거치는데 이때 고가의 원재료인 리튬의 산화 손실과 바인더인 PVDF의 불소가 이온화 될 뿐 아니라 기타 폐 이차전지 원재료의 다양한 중금속 이온이 발생하므로 대기 방출을 막기 위해 과도한 환경 시설과 운용비용이 필요로 한 실정이다. 또한 Rotary Kiln내의 고온 처리된 파쇄물의 알루미늄 극판은 산화된 상태에서 밀(Mill)을 이용한 파, 분쇄 공정을 거치는데 이때 산화된 알루미늄 극판 또한 Mill 공정으로 미분화된다. 이를 다시 블랙 매스와 알루미늄 극판, 구리극판을 분리하기 위하여 파인 진동채로 분리하는 과정 중 미분화된 구리극판, 미분된 산화 알루미늄이 블랙 매스에 혼입되어 블랙 매스 순도를 떨어지게 하므로 습식 공정을 이용하여 이차전지 양극제 원재료인 황산니켈(NiSO4), 황산코발트(CoSO4), 수산화 리튬(LiOH)으로 제조 시 불순물로 작용한다. 따라서 불순물 제거를 위한 세척에 필요한 비용의 증대와 환경 오염이 발생하여 경제성 달성에 제약을 가져오는 요인이 된다. 또한 고온 처리에 의하여 과대한 에너지 소비와 대량의 이산화 탄소가 발생하며 지구 대기환경에 커다란 영향을 미치게 된다. Conventionally, waste lithium secondary battery finished products are crushed and pulverized to make shreds and extract black mass. However, during crushing, undischarged cells are exposed to fire and explosion, and since they are soaked in electrolyte, the shreds turn into cakes when crushed and pulverized, making efficient separation impossible, and there were limitations in extracting high-purity black mass. Therefore, a process of extraction through drying, washing, and calcination is used to remove electrolyte and polymer raw materials. In the case of the drying method, acetone gas, which is a unique property of lithium secondary battery electrolyte, is generated during crushing and pulverization, which causes serious adverse effects on the health of workers due to air pollution in the factory, and the process due to washing requires additional environmental facilities and operating costs to prevent water pollution. In the case of the incineration method (KILN), a high-temperature treatment process of 400 to 1,000 degrees is performed in a rotary kiln to remove the binder used to attach the electrolyte, separator, and positive active material of the secondary battery positive plate and the carbon of the negative plate. At this time, not only is there an oxidation loss of lithium, which is an expensive raw material, and ionization of fluorine of PVDF, which is a binder, but also various heavy metal ions of other waste secondary battery raw materials are generated. Therefore, excessive environmental facilities and operating costs are required to prevent air emissions. In addition, the aluminum plates of the high-temperature treated shredded material in the rotary kiln go through a crushing and pulverizing process using a mill in an oxidized state. At this time, the oxidized aluminum plates are also pulverized by the mill process. In the process of separating the black mass, aluminum plates, and copper plates using a fine vibrating screen, undivided copper plates and undivided aluminum oxide are mixed into the black mass, lowering the purity of the black mass. Therefore, they act as impurities when manufacturing nickel sulfate (NiSO4), cobalt sulfate (CoSO4), and lithium hydroxide (LiOH), which are raw materials for secondary battery cathodes, using a wet process. Therefore, the cost required for washing to remove impurities increases and environmental pollution occurs, which are factors that limit the achievement of economic feasibility. In addition, high-temperature treatment causes excessive energy consumption and a large amount of carbon dioxide, which has a significant impact on the global atmospheric environment.
이에 본 발명의 일 실시예에 따른 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리 방법은 폐 이차전지의 각 원재료 물성을 변경하지 않는 화학적인 방법으로 전해액을 제거한 후 파쇄 및 분리를 통하여 순차적으로 분리하므로 복잡한 공정을 단순화할 뿐 아니라 친환경, 탄소중립, ESG를 만족시키는 방법으로 생산성을 향상시킬 수 있는 자동화 라인으로 이루어지는 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리 공정을 위한 전처리 방법을 제공하고자 한다.Accordingly, the method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries according to one embodiment of the present invention sequentially separates the waste secondary batteries by removing the electrolyte through a chemical method that does not change the properties of each raw material, and then crushing and separating them, thereby simplifying the complex process and improving productivity in a way that satisfies the environment, carbon neutrality, and ESG, thereby providing a preprocessing method for the waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing process consisting of an automated line.
상기 또는 다른 목적을 달성하기 위해 본 발명의 일 측면에 따르면, 전해액이 포함된 폐 이차전지를 8~15 mm로 1차 파쇄하는 단계; 추출용 반응기에서 용매를 이용하여 상기 1차 파쇄된 파쇄물에서 리튬이 포함된 전해액을 추출하면서 부력을 이용하여 분리막을 제거하는 단계; 상기 1차 파쇄물을 건조기에서 건조하는 단계; 자력선별 공정을 통하여 상기 파쇄물에서 철성분을 제거하는 단계; 상기 철성분이 제거된 파쇄물을 5~8 mm로 2차 파쇄하는 단계; 분리기를 이용하여 상기 2차 파쇄물에서 구리 극판을 분리하는 단계; 상기 구리 극판이 분리된 파쇄물을 1~5 mm로 3차 파쇄하여 파쇄물에서 알루미늄 극판과 양극 활물질을 분리하는 단계; 상기 알루미늄 극판과 양극 활물질이 포함된 블랙 매스를 추출하는 단계; 및 상기 리튬이 포함된 전해액 추출단계에서 사용된 용매에 포함된 블랙 매스를 분리기를 이용하여 분리하는 단계를 포함하는 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리 방법이 제공될 수 있다.According to one aspect of the present invention to achieve the above or other purposes, a method for reprocessing a spent lithium secondary battery may be provided, including the steps of: first crushing a spent secondary battery containing an electrolyte into 8 to 15 mm pieces; extracting an electrolyte containing lithium from the first crushed particles using a solvent in an extraction reactor while removing a separator using buoyancy; drying the first crushed particles in a dryer; removing iron components from the crushed particles through a magnetic separation process; second crushing the particles from which the iron components have been removed into 5 to 8 mm pieces; separating a copper plate from the second crushed particles using a separator; third crushing the particles from which the copper plates have been separated into 1 to 5 mm pieces to separate an aluminum plate and a cathode active material from the particles; extracting a black mass containing the aluminum plate and the cathode active material; and separating a black mass contained in a solvent used in the lithium-containing electrolyte extraction step using a separator.
본 발명의 일 측면에 따르면, 상기 전해액을 추출하는 단계에서 상기 추출용 반응기에 투입되는 용매는 메탄올(Methanol), 에탄올(Ethanol), 테트라클로로메테인(tetrachloromethane), 트라이클로로메테인 (trichloromethane), 디클로로메테인 (dichloromethane), 펜타클로로에탄 (pentachloroethane), 1,1,1,2 테트라클로로에탄(1,1,1,2 tetrachloroethane), 1,1,2,2 테트라클로로에탄(1,1,2,2 tetrachloroethane), 1,1,2 트리클로로에탄(1,1,2 trichloroethane), 1,1,1 트리클로로에탄(1,1,1 trichloroethane), 테트라클로로에텐(tetrachloroethene), 트리클로로에텐(trichloroethene), 시스 1,2 디클로로에텐(cis 1,2 dichloroethene), 트랜스 1,2 디클로로에텐(trans 1,2 dichloroethene), 1,1 디클로로에텐(1,1 dichloroethene), 1,2 디클로로에탄(1,2 dichloroethane), 1,1 디클로로에탄(1,1 dichloroethane), 및 NMP(N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinone)로 이루어지는 군으로부터 선택되는 하나 이상일 수 있다.According to one aspect of the present invention, the solvent introduced into the extraction reactor in the step of extracting the electrolyte is methanol, ethanol, tetrachloromethane, trichloromethane, dichloromethane, pentachloroethane, 1,1,1,2 tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2,2 tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2 trichloroethane, 1,1,1 trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, cis 1,2 dichloroethene, trans 1,2 dichloroethene. It may be at least one selected from the group consisting of 1,1 dichloroethene, 1,2 dichloroethane, 1,1 dichloroethane, and NMP (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinone).
본 발명의 일 측면에 따르면, 상기 전해액을 추출하는 단계에서 사용되는 용매는 상기 파쇄물의 중량에 대하여 0.5~10배의 비율로 혼합 할 수 있다.According to one aspect of the present invention, the solvent used in the step of extracting the electrolyte can be mixed at a ratio of 0.5 to 10 times the weight of the crushed material.
본 발명의 일 측면에 따르면, 상기 전해액을 추출하는 단계에서의 추출용 반응기의 온도는 10~150℃일 수 있다. According to one aspect of the present invention, the temperature of the extraction reactor in the step of extracting the electrolyte may be 10 to 150°C.
본 발명의 일 측면에 따르면, 상기 전해액 추출단계 이후에, 상기 전해액이 포함된 용매는 분별 분리기를 통해 용매와 리튬(Li)이 포함된 전해액으로 분별 분리하는 단계; 및 상기 분별 분리된 용매를 상기 전해액 추출 단계에 재 공급하는 단계를 더 포함할 수 있다.According to one aspect of the present invention, after the electrolyte extraction step, the method may further include a step of fractionating the solvent containing the electrolyte into a solvent and an electrolyte containing lithium (Li) through a fractionating separator; and a step of re-supplying the fractionated solvent to the electrolyte extraction step.
본 발명의 일 측면에 따르면, 상기 1차 파쇄물을 건조하는 단계는 20℃ 내지 200℃ 온도에서 수행될 수 있다. According to one aspect of the present invention, the step of drying the primary crushed material can be performed at a temperature of 20°C to 200°C.
본 발명에 따른 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리 방법에 대해 설명하면 다음과 같다.The method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries according to the present invention is described as follows.
본 발명의 실시예들 중 적어도 하나에 의하면, 스크랩 1차 파쇄 후 자동화 공정으로 폐 리튬 이차전지 파쇄물을 용매가 투입된 반응조에서 화학적 습식방법으로 리튬이 포함된 전해액을 추출하여 리튬 재처리를 통하여 경제성을 높이고 전해액 냄새를 제거하므로 작업장을 전해액 냄새로부터 작업환경과 대기 환경을 보호할 수 있는 효과가 있다.According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, after primary shredding of scrap, lithium secondary battery waste is extracted from the scrap in a chemical wet process in a reactor containing a solvent through an automated process, thereby increasing economic efficiency through lithium reprocessing and removing the odor of the electrolyte, thereby protecting the working environment and the atmospheric environment from the odor of the electrolyte.
본 발명의 실시예들 중 적어도 하나에 의하면, 전해액과 리튬이 추출된 스크랩은 파쇄와 분쇄를 효율적으로 수행할 수 있어 고수율, 고순도의 블랙 매스를 추출할 수 있는 장점이 있다.According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, the scrap from which the electrolyte and lithium are extracted can be efficiently crushed and pulverized, thereby having the advantage of extracting high yield and high purity black mass.
본 발명의 실시예들 중 적어도 하나에 의하면, 전해액 추출공정에서 추출한 리튬이 포함된 전해액과 용매는 분리, 회수, 재사용 하는 공정을 수행하여 비용 경제성을 높일 수 있으며 리튬이 포함된 전해액은 재처리를 통하여 추가의 수익을 창출 할 수 있는 장점이 있다. 즉, 폐 리튬 이차전지를 파쇄 후 반응조에서 전해액을 추출하며 전해액 추출 후 젖은 리튬 이차전지 파쇄물은 건조하는 공정을 통하여 전해액의 악취를 제거함과 동시에 분쇄 및 분리를 빠르게 효율적으로 수행하고 전해액 추출에 사용된 용매는 재처리를 통하여 재사용되는 블랙 매스를 추출할 수 있는 장점이 있다.According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, the electrolyte and solvent containing lithium extracted in the electrolyte extraction process can be separated, recovered, and reused to increase cost efficiency, and the electrolyte containing lithium has an advantage in that it can create additional profits through reprocessing. That is, after crushing waste lithium secondary batteries, the electrolyte is extracted in a reactor, and after the electrolyte extraction, the wet lithium secondary battery crushed matter is dried in a process to remove the odor of the electrolyte, and at the same time, crushing and separation are performed quickly and efficiently, and the solvent used in the electrolyte extraction has an advantage in that it can extract black mass that is reused through reprocessing.
본 발명의 적용 가능성의 추가적인 범위는 이하의 상세한 설명으로부터 명백해질 것이다. 그러나 본 발명의 사상 및 범위 내에서 다양한 변경 및 수정은 당업자에게 명확하게 이해될 수 있으므로, 상세한 설명 및 본 발명의 바람직한 실시예와 같은 특정 실시예는 단지 예시로 주어진 것으로 이해되어야 한다.Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description below. However, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, such as preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of example only.
도 1은 본 발명과 관련된 폐 리튬 이차전지의 재처리 방법의 플로차트이다.Figure 1 is a flow chart of a method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries related to the present invention.
도 2는 본 발명과 관련된 폐 리튬 이차전지 파쇄물의 사진이다.Figure 2 is a photograph of waste lithium secondary battery fragments related to the present invention.
도 3은 본 발명과 관련된 1차 파쇄물에서 분리된 분리막의 사진이다.Figure 3 is a photograph of a separation membrane separated from the primary crushed material related to the present invention.
도 4는 본 발명과 관련된 3차 파쇄된 배터리 파쇄물의 사진이다.FIG. 4 is a photograph of a third crushed battery fragment related to the present invention.
도 5는 본 발명과 관련된 분리 추출된 리튬 전해액의 사진이다.Figure 5 is a photograph of a separated and extracted lithium electrolyte related to the present invention.
도 6은 본 발명과 관련된 분리된 블랙매스의 사진이다.Figure 6 is a photograph of a separated black mass related to the present invention.
이하, 첨부된 도면을 참조하여 본 명세서에 개시된 실시예를 상세히 설명하되, 도면 부호에 관계없이 동일하거나 유사한 구성요소에는 동일한 참조 번호를 부여하고 이에 대한 중복되는 설명은 생략하기로 한다. 이하의 설명에서 사용되는 구성요소에 대한 접미사 "부"는 명세서 작성의 용이함만이 고려되어 부여되거나 혼용되는 것으로서, 그 자체로 서로 구별되는 의미 또는 역할을 갖는 것은 아니다. 또한, 본 명세서에 개시된 실시예를 설명함에 있어서 관련된 공지 기술에 대한 구체적인 설명이 본 명세서에 개시된 실시예의 요지를 흐릴 수 있다고 판단되는 경우 그 상세한 설명을 생략한다. 또한, 첨부된 도면은 본 명세서에 개시된 실시예를 쉽게 이해할 수 있도록 하기 위한 것일 뿐, 첨부된 도면에 의해 본 명세서에 개시된 기술적 사상이 제한되지 않으며, 본 발명의 사상 및 기술 범위에 포함되는 모든 변경, 균등물 내지 대체물을 포함하는 것으로 이해되어야 한다. Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the drawing symbols, the same or similar components will be given the same reference numerals and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffix "part" used for components in the following description is assigned or used interchangeably only for the convenience of writing the specification, and does not in itself have a distinct meaning or role. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical ideas disclosed in this specification are not limited by the attached drawings, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.
단수의 표현은 문맥상 명백하게 다르게 뜻하지 않는 한, 복수의 표현을 포함한다. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
본 출원에서, "포함한다" 또는 "가지다" 등의 용어는 명세서상에 기재된 특징, 숫자, 단계, 동작, 구성요소, 부품 또는 이들을 조합한 것이 존재함을 지정하려는 것이지, 하나 또는 그 이상의 다른 특징들이나 숫자, 단계, 동작, 구성요소, 부품 또는 이들을 조합한 것들의 존재 또는 부가 가능성을 미리 배제하지 않는 것으로 이해되어야 한다.In this application, it should be understood that terms such as “comprises” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but do not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.
본 발명은 전해액을 포함하고 있는 폐 리튬 이차전지를 1차 파쇄 및 분쇄하여 전해액이 추출된 파쇄물을 처리하여 고수율, 고순도의 블랙 매스를 추출할 뿐 아니라 리튬을 포함한 전해액을 고수율로 회수하기 위한 화학적 습식공정 (Wet Chemical Process)에 대한 것이다. 전해액을 포함하고 있는 폐 리튬 이차전지의 1차 파쇄 시 파쇄물에는 전해액이 웨팅(wetting)되어 파쇄물이 전해액에 의하여 케이크화 되므로 고순도의 블랙 매스와 고수율의 블랙 매스를 추출하기가 어렵다. 또한 전해액은 diethyl carbonate (DEC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC) 등과 같이 케톤(ketone)구조를 가지는 방향족 유기용매를 주원료로 사용하고 있어서 파쇄와 분쇄 시 전해액의 냄새로 인한 작업장의 공기 환경을 담보할 수 없는 어려움이 있었다.The present invention relates to a wet chemical process for extracting high-yield, high-purity black mass by first crushing and pulverizing spent lithium secondary batteries containing electrolyte, and processing the crushed materials from which the electrolyte is extracted, and recovering the electrolyte including lithium with a high yield. When spent lithium secondary batteries containing electrolyte are first crushed, the electrolyte is wetted in the crushed materials, and the crushed materials turn into a cake by the electrolyte, so it is difficult to extract high-purity black mass and high-yield black mass. In addition, since the electrolyte mainly uses an aromatic organic solvent having a ketone structure, such as diethyl carbonate (DEC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC), there has been a difficulty in securing an air environment in the workplace due to the odor of the electrolyte during crushing and pulverization.
이러한 문제를 해결하기 위하여 본 발명의 일 실시예에서는 화학적 방법을 이용하여 수명이 다한(EoL, End of Life) 리튬 이차전지 (lithium secondary battery) 재처리를 위한 전처리 자동화 공정으로 전해액(electrolyte)을 함유하고 있는 폐 리튬 이차전지를 효과적으로 파쇄 및 분쇄 하여 순도가 높고 분리율이 높은 양질의 블랙 매스(black mass)와 리튬이 포함된 전해액을 추출하기 위한 전처리 공정을 개시한다. 보다 구체적으로 첫째, 폐 리튬 이차전지를 파쇄 시 미 방전된 셀은 화재 및 폭발의 원인이 되는데 화재 및 폭발을 방지하면서 화학적 습식 방법(Wet Chemical Method)을 이용하여 리튬이 포함된 전해액을 추출하는 공정이 개시되고, 둘째, 전해액이 제거된 폐 리튬 이차전지 파쇄물의 용매를 건조하는 공정이 개시되고, 셋째, 리튬과 전해액 및 용매와 함께 추출된 블랙 매스를 분리하는 공정이 개시되고, 넷째, 용매와 리튬이 포함된 전해액을 분리하는 공정이 개시되고, 다섯째, 분리된 용매를 재사용하는 공정으로 이루어지며 1차 파쇄물을 2차 파쇄 및 분리 공정을 통하여 고순도, 고수율의 블랙 매스를 추출 뿐 아니라 리튬을 포함한 전해액을 고수율로 회수하는 자동화 공정을 제공한다.In order to solve these problems, in one embodiment of the present invention, a pretreatment process for recycling a lithium secondary battery whose life has ended (EoL) is disclosed, which effectively crushes and pulverizes a spent lithium secondary battery containing an electrolyte by using a chemical method, to extract high-quality black mass with high purity and high separation rate and an electrolyte containing lithium. More specifically, first, when shredding spent lithium secondary batteries, undischarged cells can cause fire and explosion, so a process for extracting electrolyte containing lithium using a wet chemical method while preventing fire and explosion is disclosed, second, a process for drying a solvent in spent lithium secondary battery shreds from which the electrolyte has been removed is disclosed, third, a process for separating black mass extracted together with lithium, electrolyte, and solvent is disclosed, fourth, a process for separating the solvent and electrolyte containing lithium is disclosed, and fifth, a process for reusing the separated solvent is provided. In this process, high-purity, high-yield black mass is extracted from primary shreds through secondary shredding and separation processes, and an automated process for recovering electrolyte containing lithium at a high yield is provided.
특히 1차 파쇄 시 미 방전된 셀에 의한 화재, 폭발을 방지하면서 저온 화학적인 습식방법으로 블랙 매스와 리튬을 포함한 전해액을 회수하는 공정으로 친환경, 탄소 중립, ESG를 만족하는 화학적인 공정으로 리튬 및 블랙 매스 추출 자동화 공정을 제공한다.In particular, it is a process for recovering black mass and electrolyte containing lithium through a low-temperature chemical wet method while preventing fire and explosion caused by undischarged cells during the first crushing, and provides an automated process for extracting lithium and black mass through a chemical process that satisfies environmental friendliness, carbon neutrality, and ESG.
즉, 본 발명에 따른 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리을 위한 1차 파쇄 시 미 방전된 셀에 의한 화재, 폭발을 방지하고 전해액 추출단계를 거치면서 효율적으로 폐 리튬 이차전지의 주요 구성물인 파우치 포장 또는 캔, 전해질, 분리막, 양극 극판인 알루미늄과 양극 활물질, 음극극판인 구리와 음극 활물질을 효율적으로 분리 가능한 방법이 개시된다. 또한, 본 발명의 일 실시예에 따른 폐 리튬 이차전지 재생공정은 화재 폭발 등에 대한 안전을 담보할 수 있으므로 연속식 공정이 가능하기 때문에 모든 공정을 위한 기계를 밀폐화시켜 분진과 대기오염을 방지하고 블랙 매스만 분리 추출하며 순도와 분리량을 향상시킬 수 있는 이점이 있다.That is, a method is disclosed for efficiently separating the main components of a spent lithium secondary battery, such as a pouch packaging or can, an electrolyte, a separator, aluminum as a positive electrode plate and a positive electrode active material, and copper as a negative electrode plate and a negative electrode active material, during the first crushing for reprocessing of a spent lithium secondary battery according to the present invention, thereby preventing fire and explosion due to undischarged cells, and efficiently separating the main components of a spent lithium secondary battery, such as a pouch packaging or can, an electrolyte, a separator, and a positive electrode plate, and a negative electrode active material, through an electrolyte extraction step. In addition, since the spent lithium secondary battery regeneration process according to an embodiment of the present invention can ensure safety against fire and explosion, etc., it is possible to perform a continuous process, and thus has the advantage of sealing the machines for all processes to prevent dust and air pollution, separating and extracting only black mass, and improving purity and separation amount.
도 1은 본 발명과 관련된 폐 리튬 이차전지의 재처리 방법의 플로우 차트인데, 이하에서는 도 1을 참조하여 본 발명의 일 실시예에 따른 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리 방법에 대하여 설명하기로 한다.FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries related to the present invention. Hereinafter, a method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
상기 폐 리튬 이차전지 재처리 방법은 전해액이 포함된 폐 이차전지를 8~15 mm로 1차 파쇄(S110)하는 단계와, 추출용 반응기에서 용매를 이용하여 상기 1차 파쇄된 파쇄물에서 리튬이 포함된 전해액을 추출하면서 부력을 이용하여 분리막을 제거(S120)하는 단계와, 상기 1차 파쇄물을 건조기에서 건조(S130)하는 단계와, 자력선별 공정을 통하여 상기 파쇄물에서 철성분을 제거(S140)하는 단계와, 상기 철성분이 제거된 파쇄물을 5~8 mm로 2차 파쇄(S150)하는 단계와, 분리기를 이용하여 상기 2차 파쇄물에서 구리 극판을 분리(S160)하는 단계와, 상기 구리 극판이 분리된 파쇄물을 1~5 mm로 3차 파쇄(S170)하여 알루미늄 극판에서 양극 활물질을 분리하는 단계와, 상기 알루미늄 극판과 양극 활물질이 포함된 블랙 매스를 추출(S180)하는 단계와, 상기 리튬이 포함된 전해액 추출단계에서 사용된 용매에 포함된 블랙 매스를 분리기를 이용하여 분리(S190)하는 단계를 포함하여 이루어진다.The above-mentioned waste lithium secondary battery reprocessing method comprises the steps of: first crushing waste secondary batteries containing electrolyte into 8 to 15 mm (S110); extracting lithium-containing electrolyte from the first crushed waste using a solvent in an extraction reactor while removing a separator using buoyancy (S120); drying the first crushed waste in a dryer (S130); removing iron components from the crushed waste through a magnetic separation process (S140); second crushing the crushed waste from which the iron components have been removed into 5 to 8 mm (S150); separating copper plates from the second crushed waste using a separator (S160); third crushing the crushed waste from which the copper plates have been separated into 1 to 5 mm (S170) to separate cathode active material from the aluminum plates; and removing black mass containing the aluminum plates and cathode active material. It is performed including a step of extracting (S180) and a step of separating (S190) the black mass included in the solvent used in the step of extracting the electrolyte containing lithium using a separator.
이때, 상기 1차 파쇄물을 파쇄하는 단계는 슈레더(Shredder)를 이용하여 파쇄하고, 1차 파쇄 내지 3차 파쇄는 점차 작은 크기로 파쇄한다. 1차 파쇄물을 건조하는 단계는 20℃ 내지 160℃ 온도에서 수행된다. 이때는 킬른 소성로, 진공 건조기, 열건조기, 일반건조기 등의 건조기를 이용하여 수행할 수 있다. At this time, the step of crushing the first crushed material is crushed using a shredder, and the first to third crushings are crushed into gradually smaller sizes. The step of drying the first crushed material is performed at a temperature of 20°C to 160°C. At this time, it can be performed using a dryer such as a kiln furnace, a vacuum dryer, a thermal dryer, or a general dryer.
만약, 20℃ 보다 낮은 온도에서는 건조가 제대로 이루어지지 않는 문제가 있고, 160℃ 보다 높은 경우에는 바인더(PVDF)가 알루미늄 극판, 양극 활물질과 블랙 매스와의 결착력을 더욱 높일 수 있기 때문에 건조 온도를 20~160℃로 한정한다.If the temperature is lower than 20℃, there is a problem that drying is not performed properly, and if it is higher than 160℃, the binder (PVDF) can further increase the bonding strength between the aluminum plate, positive electrode active material, and black mass, so the drying temperature is limited to 20 to 160℃.
이때, 도 2는 본 발명과 관련된 폐 리튬 이차전지 파쇄물의 사진이고, 도 3은 본 발명과 관련된 1차 파쇄물에서 분리된 분리막의 사진이고, 도 4는 본 발명과 관련된 3차 파쇄된 배터리 파쇄물의 사진이다.At this time, FIG. 2 is a photograph of waste lithium secondary battery shreds related to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a photograph of a separator separated from the first shreds related to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a photograph of the third shredded battery shreds related to the present invention.
또한, 상기 전해액을 추출하는 단계에서 상기 추출용 반응기에 투입되는 용매는 메탄올(Methanol), 에탄올(Ethanol), 테트라클로로메테인(tetrachloromethane), 트라이클로로메테인 (trichloromethane), 디클로로메테인 (dichloromethane), 펜타클로로에탄 (pentachloroethane), 1,1,1,2 테트라클로로에탄(1,1,1,2 tetrachloroethane), 1,1,2,2 테트라클로로에탄(1,1,2,2 tetrachloroethane), 1,1,2 트리클로로에탄(1,1,2 trichloroethane), 1,1,1 트리클로로에탄(1,1,1 trichloroethane), 테트라클로로에텐(tetrachloroethene), 트리클로로에텐(trichloroethene), 시스 1,2 디클로로에텐(cis 1,2 dichloroethene), 트랜스 1,2 디클로로에텐(trans 1,2 dichloroethene), 1,1 디클로로에텐(1,1 dichloroethene), 1,2 디클로로에탄(1,2 dichloroethane), 1,1 디클로로에탄(1,1 dichloroethane), 및 NMP(N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinone)으로 이루어지는 군으로부터 선택되는 하나 이상일 수 있다. 사용되는 용매에 따라 전해액 추출시에 추가로 질소(nitrogen)를 이용하여 퍼징(purging)함으로써 발화를 미연에 방지할 수도 있다.In addition, the solvent introduced into the extraction reactor in the step of extracting the electrolyte is methanol, ethanol, tetrachloromethane, trichloromethane, dichloromethane, pentachloroethane, 1,1,1,2 tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2,2 tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2 trichloroethane, 1,1,1 trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, cis 1,2 dichloroethene, trans 1,2 dichloroethene, It may be at least one selected from the group consisting of 1,1 dichloroethene, 1,2 dichloroethane, 1,1 dichloroethane, and NMP (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinone). Depending on the solvent used, ignition can be prevented in advance by additionally purging with nitrogen during electrolyte extraction.
상기 전해액을 추출하는 단계에서 사용되는 용매는 상기 파쇄물의 중량에 대하여 0.5~10배의 비율로 혼합할 수 있다. 만약, 용매의 양이 파쇄물의 중량보다 0.5배보다 적은 경우에는 용매가 파쇄물의 분리막(separator)에서 모두 흡수할 수가 있어 단순히 젖어 있는 상태로 케이크화되어 전해액 추출이 어렵게 되고, 용매의 10배보다 많은 경우에는 비용이 과다하는 문제가 있다.The solvent used in the step of extracting the electrolyte may be mixed at a ratio of 0.5 to 10 times the weight of the crushed material. If the amount of the solvent is less than 0.5 times the weight of the crushed material, the solvent may be completely absorbed by the separator of the crushed material, so that it simply becomes a cake in a wet state, making it difficult to extract the electrolyte. If the amount of the solvent is more than 10 times the weight, there is a problem of excessive cost.
또한, 본 발명의 일 실시예에서의 폐 리튬 이차전지 파쇄물에서 전해액 추출을 위한 추출용 반응기 온도가 10~150℃에서 2~30분 동안 추출반응기에 침전, 스크류 등의 교반기계로 교반하며 이송 반응시키거나, 스크류 또는 컨베이어 벨트 등으로 이송 반응시키면서 스프레이 분사 반응시켜 전해액을 추출하는 공정에 진동 또는 초음파를 이용한 충격 도구를 혼합한 기계(Line, Batch등)를 이용하여 전해액 추출 반응을 수행할 수도 있다. 만약, 추출용 반응기의 온도가 150℃ 보다 높은 경우에는 바인더(PVDF)가 녹을 수가 있으며, 용매의 끓는점을 감안하면 10℃ 보다 높도록 하는 것이 바람직하다.In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature of the extraction reactor for extracting the electrolyte from the waste lithium secondary battery scrap is 10 to 150°C for 2 to 30 minutes, and the process of transporting the electrolyte while stirring with a stirring machine such as a screw or a screw, or transporting the electrolyte while spraying the electrolyte, may be performed by using a machine (line, batch, etc.) that combines an impact tool using vibration or ultrasonic waves. If the temperature of the extraction reactor is higher than 150°C, the binder (PVDF) may melt, and considering the boiling point of the solvent, it is preferable to set it higher than 10°C.
한편, 본 발명의 일 실시예에서는 상기 전해액 추출단계 이후에, 상기 전해액이 포함된 용매는 분별 분리기를 통해 용매와 리튬(Li)이 포함된 전해액으로 분별 분리(S123)하는 단계와, 상기 분별 분리된 용매를 상기 전해액 추출 단계에 재공급(S125)하는 단계를 더 포함하여 용매를 재사용할 수 있도록 한다. 보다 구체적으로, 리튬과 전해액이 혼합된 용매에서 용매 또는 2 이상의 혼합 용매와 리튬이 포함된 전해액을 20~150℃의 온도 범위에서 분별 분리기 또는 유층 분리기를 이용하여 리튬이 포함된 전해액과 용매 또는 혼합 용매를 분리한다. 만약, 20℃ 보다 낮은 경우에는 전해액 추출이 곤란하고, 150℃ 보다 높은 경우에는 전해액이 추출되더라도 바인더를 녹을 수 있기 때문에 본 발명의 일 실시 예에서는 전해액 추출 온도를 20~150℃로 한정한다.Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, after the electrolyte extraction step, the solvent containing the electrolyte is fractionated into a solvent and an electrolyte containing lithium (Li) through a fractionating separator (S123), and the fractionated solvent is re-supplied to the electrolyte extraction step (S125) so that the solvent can be reused. More specifically, in a solvent in which lithium and the electrolyte are mixed, the solvent or a mixed solvent of two or more and the electrolyte containing lithium are separated from the electrolyte containing lithium using a fractionating separator or a layer separator at a temperature range of 20 to 150°C. If the temperature is lower than 20°C, it is difficult to extract the electrolyte, and if it is higher than 150°C, even if the electrolyte is extracted, the binder may melt. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the electrolyte extraction temperature is limited to 20 to 150°C.
이하에서는 본 발명의 일 실시예에 따른 전해액이 포함된 폐 리튬 이차전지 폐기물을 재처리하는 방법에 대하여 보다 구체적으로 설명하기로 한다.Hereinafter, a method for reprocessing waste lithium secondary battery containing electrolyte according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.
먼저, 전해액이 포함된 폐 리튬 이차전지 폐기물을 파쇄 및 분쇄시키는데, 이는 전해액이 포함된 폐 리튬 이차전지 폐기물을 파쇄하는 단계로 폐 리튬이차전지를 슈레더(Shredder)로 8~15mm의 크기로 파쇄했다. 8~15mm의 파쇄물을 파쇄물의 무게비율로 2.5배의 디클로로메탄(Dichloro methane)용매를 추출용 반응기에 투입 스크류를 통하여 10분간 이송시키면서 반응의 효율성을 높이기 위하여 혼합 공정을 추가하여 전해액을 추출했다. 이 과정에서 분리막이 자동으로 분리되며, 분리된 분리막을 제거하였다.First, the spent lithium secondary battery waste containing the electrolyte is crushed and pulverized. This is the step of crushing the spent lithium secondary battery waste containing the electrolyte. The spent lithium secondary batteries are crushed into 8 to 15 mm sizes using a shredder. The 8 to 15 mm crushed materials are fed into an extraction reactor with 2.5 times the weight ratio of the crushed materials through a screw for 10 minutes, and a mixing process is added to increase the efficiency of the reaction to extract the electrolyte. During this process, the separator is automatically separated and the separated separator is removed.
상기 추출된 파쇄물은 전용 건조 기계로 보내어 건조했다, 이때 건조열풍은 30℃~45℃였다. 만약, 건조 온도가 20℃ 이하일 경우에는 용매의 건조 속도가 낮아 시간당 목표 처리량에 어려움이 발생하고, 건조 온도가 45℃ 이상일 경우에도 잔존하고 있는 바인더인 PVDF가 열 경화로 인한 바인더의 증가력 등이 알루미늄과 양극 물질의 분리율과 순도에 영향을 미치지 않았다.The above extracted crushed material was sent to a dedicated drying machine and dried. At this time, the drying hot air was 30℃ to 45℃. If the drying temperature is 20℃ or lower, the drying speed of the solvent is low, making it difficult to achieve the target processing amount per hour. Even if the drying temperature is 45℃ or higher, the remaining binder, PVDF, did not affect the separation rate and purity of aluminum and the cathode material due to the increase in binder caused by heat curing.
표 1은 파쇄물의 건조 온도 변화에 따른 생산량과 분리율을 측정한 것을 표로 나타낸 것이다. 표 1을 참조하면, 30~45도에서의 분리율과 순도가 모두 99%임을 알 수 있다.Table 1 shows the results of measuring the production yield and separation rate according to the drying temperature of the crushed material. Referring to Table 1, it can be seen that the separation rate and purity at 30 to 45 degrees are both 99%.
전해액 추출 후 건조된 파쇄물에서 잔존 분리막은 분리기를 이용하여 제거함으로써 폐 이차전지 파쇄물을 수득하였다. 수득한 파쇄물을 벨트 자력선별기 공정을 통하여 배터리의 전극, 캔 등과 같은 철성분을 제거한 음극 및 양극 파쇄 및 분쇄물을 수득할 수 있었다.After extracting the electrolyte, the residual separator was removed from the dried shreds using a separator to obtain waste secondary battery shreds. The obtained shreds were subjected to a belt magnetic separator process to obtain negative and positive electrode shreds and pulverized products from which iron components such as battery electrodes and cans were removed.
전해액과 분리막 및 캔, 전극이 제거된 분쇄물은 2차 슈레더를 통하여 5~8mm로 파쇄 한 후 분리기를 통하여 구리 극판을 제거하였다. 상기 구리 극판이 제거된 음극 활물질과 알루미늄 극판에 부착된 양극 활물질을 분리하기 위하여 핀밀 공정을 통하여 1~5mm로 파쇄 공정을 거치자 알루미늄과 양극 활물질을 쉽게 분리되었으며 분리된 알루미늄 극판과 양극 활물질 및 음극 활물질을 80~120 Mesh 진동체를 통하여 알루미늄 극판을 분리하여 순도 99% 이상의 블랙 매스를 분리 추출할 수 있었다. 이때, 분리 추출된 리튬 전해액의 사진은 도 5에 도시하였고, 분리 추출된 블랙 매스의 사진은 도 6에 도시하였다.The crushed material from which the electrolyte, separator, can, and electrodes were removed was crushed into 5 to 8 mm pieces through a secondary shredder, and then the copper plate was removed through a separator. In order to separate the negative active material from which the copper plate was removed and the positive active material attached to the aluminum plate, the aluminum and positive active material were crushed into 1 to 5 mm pieces through a pin mill process, and the aluminum and positive active material were easily separated. The separated aluminum plate, positive active material, and negative active material were passed through an 80 to 120 mesh vibrating sieve to separate the aluminum plate, and the black mass with a purity of 99% or more could be separated and extracted. At this time, a photograph of the separated and extracted lithium electrolyte is shown in Fig. 5, and a photograph of the separated and extracted black mass is shown in Fig. 6.
전해액 추출공정을 통하여 수득한 리튬이 포함된 전해액과 용매(Solvent)는 일부 블랙 매스가 포함되어 있어 원심 분리기를 통하여 분리할 수 있는데, 리튬이 포함된 전해액과 용매를 분리기를 통하여 분리하였다. 이후 분리된 블랙 매스 케이크는 건조기로 보내어 건조공정을 수행하였다.The electrolyte and solvent containing lithium obtained through the electrolyte extraction process contain some black mass, which can be separated using a centrifuge. The electrolyte and solvent containing lithium were separated using the separator. Afterwards, the separated black mass cake was sent to a dryer to perform a drying process.
전해액이 포함된 혼합 용매는 분별 분리기로 보내어 35~45℃의 온도로 분별 분리하여 용매와 리늄(Li)이 포함된 전해액을 분리할 수 있었다. 추출된 전해액의 Li 함량은 배터리 제조 시 투입한 비율의 90%였으며 반응 용매의 투입량에 따라 변화가 있었다.The mixed solvent containing the electrolyte was sent to a fractionator and fractionated at a temperature of 35 to 45°C to separate the solvent and the electrolyte containing lithium (Li). The Li content of the extracted electrolyte was 90% of the ratio input during battery manufacturing and varied depending on the amount of reaction solvent input.
분별 분리기를 이용하여 회수한 용제의 회수율은 98%였으며 회수한 분리용매(Solvent)는 다시 전해액 추출용 반응기로 보내어 재활용하였다.The recovery rate of the solvent recovered using the fractionator was 98%, and the recovered separated solvent was sent back to the electrolyte extraction reactor and recycled.
상기의 상세한 설명은 모든 면에서 제한적으로 해석되어서는 아니되고 예시적인 것으로 고려되어야 한다. 본 발명의 범위는 첨부된 청구항의 합리적 해석에 의해 결정되어야 하고, 본 발명의 등가적 범위 내에서의 모든 변경은 본 발명의 범위에 포함된다.The above detailed description should not be construed as restrictive in all respects but should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes coming within the equivalent scope of the invention are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention.
본 발명의 일 실시예는 폐 리튬 이차전지를 재처리하기 위한 기술분야 중 폐 이차전지의 파쇄물에서 화학적 방법으로 리튬이 포함된 전해액을 추출하여 고수율의 리튬을 회수하는데 사용될 수 있다.One embodiment of the present invention can be used in the technical field of reprocessing waste lithium secondary batteries to recover lithium at a high yield by extracting an electrolyte containing lithium from shredded waste secondary batteries by a chemical method.
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