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WO2025011985A1 - A method and apparatus for analysis of materials - Google Patents

A method and apparatus for analysis of materials Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2025011985A1
WO2025011985A1 PCT/EP2024/068333 EP2024068333W WO2025011985A1 WO 2025011985 A1 WO2025011985 A1 WO 2025011985A1 EP 2024068333 W EP2024068333 W EP 2024068333W WO 2025011985 A1 WO2025011985 A1 WO 2025011985A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
black mass
mass
composition
black
composition information
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Pending
Application number
PCT/EP2024/068333
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French (fr)
Inventor
Ronald Gillner
Michael Weis
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Norsk Hydro ASA
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Norsk Hydro ASA
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Publication of WO2025011985A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025011985A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N23/00Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
    • G01N23/22Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by measuring secondary emission from the material
    • G01N23/223Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by measuring secondary emission from the material by irradiating the sample with X-rays or gamma-rays and by measuring X-ray fluorescence
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N23/00Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
    • G01N23/22Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by measuring secondary emission from the material
    • G01N23/221Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by measuring secondary emission from the material by activation analysis
    • G01N23/222Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by measuring secondary emission from the material by activation analysis using neutron activation analysis [NAA]
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07CPOSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/34Sorting according to other particular properties
    • B07C5/346Sorting according to other particular properties according to radioactive properties
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N23/00Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
    • G01N23/02Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material
    • G01N23/06Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption
    • G01N23/12Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption the material being a flowing fluid or a flowing granular solid
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2223/00Investigating materials by wave or particle radiation
    • G01N2223/07Investigating materials by wave or particle radiation secondary emission
    • G01N2223/074Investigating materials by wave or particle radiation secondary emission activation analysis
    • G01N2223/0745Investigating materials by wave or particle radiation secondary emission activation analysis neutron-gamma activation analysis
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2223/00Investigating materials by wave or particle radiation
    • G01N2223/60Specific applications or type of materials
    • G01N2223/616Specific applications or type of materials earth materials
    • YGENERAL 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
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02WCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
    • Y02W30/00Technologies for solid waste management
    • Y02W30/50Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
    • Y02W30/84Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Definitions

  • the present invention relates a method and apparatus for recycling battery components, in particular black mass.
  • Battery scrap is collected by or delivered to recycling hubs. Batteries can be made in different designs defined by their intended use and their chemical composition.
  • the aim of mechanical processing is to concentrate the battery chemistry - the so-called black mass. This black mass is then processed in hydrometallurgy, where all essential elements of the battery chemistry can be recovered (cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium).
  • the black mass contains rare earth elements in particular, such as cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese. These elements represent the largest part of the value chain of the recycling process, so that here all mechanical treatment processes focus on two essential points:
  • a method and apparatus for online analyzing a composition of a black mass in a battery recycling process the black mass being processed in at least one upstream process step, wherein the black mass from said process step is measured online in the process for important elements by being irradiated by at least one source, in which the radiation emitted by the said black mass is absorbed by at least one detector, and in which, based on the radiation absorbed by the at least one detector, a composition information of the composition of the black mass is determined by appropriate equipment that can comprise a computer, and that the composition information is processed by the computer to provide a signal to a controller, PLC or the like, that controls at least one parameter of the said at least one upstream process step, either in a real time manner or ad hoc.
  • Figure 1 shows the principles of controlling the process by information from the analysis according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 shows all separated black mass in the sorting process is fed to an online measurement equipment (PGNAA), the analyzed black mass can then be stored: as full batch of the (daily) production
  • Figure 3 shows all separated black mass in the sorting process is fed to an online measurement equipment (PGNAA), the analyzed black mass can be stored: as several smaller batches of the (daily) production.
  • PNAA online measurement equipment
  • Fig. 1 there is shown an extracting step of mixed foil fraction including black mass, aluminium, copper and plastics.
  • a foil processing step with an impact crusher followed by a sieving step.
  • Black mass fraction 1 from the sieving step can be analysed online and online adjustments can be carried out such as the rpm of the impact crusher to optimize the process.
  • the invention can be technically implemented e.g. with existing technologies, which are so far mainly used in the field of primary raw material extraction.
  • PGNAA prompt gamma neutron activation analysis
  • LIBS laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
  • XRF X-ray fluorescence
  • PFTNA pulsed fast thermo neutron activation
  • the black mass (or other sorting fraction) to be analyzed is transported by a conveyor belt, for example.
  • This measuring device can, for example, consist of a LIBS module, including laser and spectrometer.
  • the measurement is then carried out in a section of the material flow on the conveyor belt.
  • part of the sorting product just generated - e.g. black mass - is evaluated qualitatively, as a composition analysis can be determined via the spectrometer.
  • LIBS and XRF analysis only a partial area is analyzed close to the surface. Nevertheless, this method is advantageous, as an online evaluation of a relatively representative proportion of the sorted product is analyzed. Especially in relation to the classic sampling method, which evaluates a relatively small quantity with a time delay.
  • the online measurement technology must be able to analyze a large part of the extracted black mass online for the compounds relevant to the process. This allows process parameters to be set in a short reaction time (online), which influence the quality of the black mass (or other by-products).
  • Black-mass composition in terms of: • content of essential elements such as cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese (but as well other elements which will be of interest due to the ongoing developments in the field of battery chemistry)
  • the online evaluation can have an influence on the quality (reduction of impurities by changing the process parameters) of the black mass, as well as additional information regarding the content of essential elements (cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese).
  • the material value of the Black Mass depends mainly on 2 parameters: • Content of cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium. • Impurity content, e.g. aluminum and copper. By declaring the cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium content of each batch, a higher added value can already be generated in the hydrometallurgical process.
  • Black mass can be extracted via several process steps during the mechanical recycling process. Due to the fact that the Black mass is concentrated in a grain size range ⁇ 0,3 mm, normally the Black mass extraction take place via several sieving steps.
  • typical Black mass extractions :
  • Battery recycling - interesting elements are the elements which reduce the value of the black mass (due to the process of the black mass treatment plants - like hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical plants)
  • Fig. 2 All separated black mass in the sorting process is fed to the online measurement equipment (PGNAA in this example). The analyzed black mass can then be stored: As full batch of the (daily) production; or;
  • the batch size is freely adjustable, but usually in units of > 100kg and ⁇ 5,000kg.
  • the individually stored batches e.g. BigBags
  • the measuring device may comprise a neutron source, so that black mass passing the image of the measuring device is irradiated with neutrons.
  • the gamma radiation thereby emitted by the black mass is recorded by at least one detector of the measuring device.
  • the gamma radiation absorbed by the at least one detector of the measuring device is analyzed by a calculation device, which may also be formed as part of the measuring device.
  • the equipment may include a computer or the similar.
  • the measuring device calculates based on the absorbed gamma radiation an online composition information about the composition of the instant analyzed black mass.
  • a control signal is calculated and is sent to an upstream processing step for adjusting the process parameters, preferably according to a pre-defined scheme. This can be calculated and controlled by a computer.
  • the composition information determined in this way is very reliable for the overall composition of the black mass.
  • the analyzed black mass can be identified, priced and used purposefully.
  • the sampling error can be completely eliminated with the invention.
  • the black mass can be assigned in particular downstream bins or transport routes.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Analysing Materials By The Use Of Radiation (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)

Abstract

A method and apparatus for online analyzing to control the composition of a black mass in a battery recycling process, the black mass being processed in an upstream a process step. The black mass from said process step is online measured against its composition by being irradiated by at least one source, that can be a neutron source, in which the radiation, that can be gamma radiation, that is emitted by the said black mass is absorbed by at least one detector, and in which, based on the radiation absorbed by the at least one detector, a composition information of the composition of the black mass is determined by the equipment and transmitted as a signal to a controller that controls at least one parameter of the said upstream process step. The control can be in real time manner or ad hoc. The composition information can also be used to tag batches of material. The online measurements and analysis can be done by suitable online methods as PGNAA, PFTNA, XRF or LIBS.

Description

A method and apparatus for analysis of materials
The present invention relates a method and apparatus for recycling battery components, in particular black mass.
In the battle towards a more circular economy it is a motion to increase the recycling rate and to reduce the costs, and also the mining for new raw materials in the production of new batteries.
In order to improve the value of recycled black mass and to increase the recycling rate of materials stemming from end of life batteries, there is a need to increase the recycling rate.
In the context of the changeover from combustion engines to electric drives in the vehicle industry, lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly important. This relatively new technology is subject to constant development processes and innovations. In addition, recycling processes must be developed in the coming years to solve this new task for the recycling industry.
Battery scrap is collected by or delivered to recycling hubs. Batteries can be made in different designs defined by their intended use and their chemical composition.
Today, batteries can be recycled according to some main steps:
• Discharging of electrical energy
• Disassembly of battery systems
• Mechanical processing, crushing/shredding, sorting, sieving
• Electrolyte recovery, black mass recovery
• Hydrometallurgical processes Pyrometallurgical processes
Furthermore, other recycling processes exist in which additional or fewer steps are used.
Basically, processes have been established worldwide in recent years that are structured as follows:
• Pyrometallurgical recycling - here battery cells or battery modules are pyrometallurgically processed. The focus is on recovering the elements essential for battery cell chemistry, such as cobalt and nickel. Lithium cannot be recovered in this way, or only with high losses.
• Hydrometallurgical recycling - this is preceded by mechanical processing (for battery cells, battery modules and battery packs).
The aim of mechanical processing is to concentrate the battery chemistry - the so-called black mass. This black mass is then processed in hydrometallurgy, where all essential elements of the battery chemistry can be recovered (cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium).
In addition to graphite, the black mass contains rare earth elements in particular, such as cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese. These elements represent the largest part of the value chain of the recycling process, so that here all mechanical treatment processes focus on two essential points:
• High purity, meaning the lowest possible contamination of the black mass with, for example, aluminium, copper or plastics (usually max. concentrations of these elements of < 1 % each). • High yield, i.e. as high a yield of black mass as possible and few losses, e.g. via other sorting fractions such as cathode foil concentrates (aluminium foil).
The achievement of these two essential points is usually checked via a mass balance of the recycling plant and a chemical analysis of the black mass.
However, the disadvantage by this approach is that there is a time lag in the qualitative chemical analysis.
Furthermore, a sample of « 5 g is usually chemically analysed so the collected information may not be representative at all times.
Therefore, even though the chemical analyses have a high measurement reliability, misinterpretation of the black-mass chemical analysis occurs because it analyses and thus represents only a very small portion of the total mass balance.
The invention was developed as mentioned below having regard to the two abovementioned main drawbacks:
• Online measurement methods for evaluating the chemical quality of individual material streams.
• Online parameterization of the process technology on the basis of the online measurement procedure.
Advantages with the present invention based upon the online black mass analysis: full analysis of complete black mass fraction both online and for sale process adjustments during operations possible This results in: stable black mass quality higher value of black mass
According to the invention there is established a method and apparatus for online analyzing a composition of a black mass in a battery recycling process, the black mass being processed in at least one upstream process step, wherein the black mass from said process step is measured online in the process for important elements by being irradiated by at least one source, in which the radiation emitted by the said black mass is absorbed by at least one detector, and in which, based on the radiation absorbed by the at least one detector, a composition information of the composition of the black mass is determined by appropriate equipment that can comprise a computer, and that the composition information is processed by the computer to provide a signal to a controller, PLC or the like, that controls at least one parameter of the said at least one upstream process step, either in a real time manner or ad hoc.
These and further advantages can be achieved with the invention as defined in the accompanying claims 1 -15.
The present invention will be described in further detail in the following by means of examples and figures, where:
Figure 1 shows the principles of controlling the process by information from the analysis according to the present invention,
Figure 2 shows all separated black mass in the sorting process is fed to an online measurement equipment (PGNAA), the analyzed black mass can then be stored: as full batch of the (daily) production, Figure 3 shows all separated black mass in the sorting process is fed to an online measurement equipment (PGNAA), the analyzed black mass can be stored: as several smaller batches of the (daily) production.
According to Fig. 1 there is shown an extracting step of mixed foil fraction including black mass, aluminium, copper and plastics. There is shown a foil processing step with an impact crusher followed by a sieving step. Black mass fraction 1 from the sieving step can be analysed online and online adjustments can be carried out such as the rpm of the impact crusher to optimize the process.
By way of example, the invention will be explained on the basis of the consideration of the black mass fraction:
• By chemically evaluating the entire black-mass during sorting, it is possible to directly influence the machine/process parameters and thus influence the quality of it. Furthermore, the sampling error in state of the art methods is eliminated. In addition, the chemical composition can be determined for each unit of black mass (e.g. BigBags, tonnage, etc.).
The invention can be technically implemented e.g. with existing technologies, which are so far mainly used in the field of primary raw material extraction. The so-called "prompt gamma neutron activation analysis" - hereinafter referred to as PGNAA - is suitable as an online measuring method.
Other suitable online methods are, for example, measurement methods using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), or a neutron generator using pulsed fast thermo neutron activation (PFTNA) or similar.
• principle of x-ray fluorescence (XRF) or laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) o The measurement is carried out online as follows: the black mass (or other sorting fraction) to be analyzed is transported by a conveyor belt, for example. There is a measuring device above the conveyor belt. This measuring device can, for example, consist of a LIBS module, including laser and spectrometer. The measurement is then carried out in a section of the material flow on the conveyor belt. In this way, part of the sorting product just generated - e.g. black mass - is evaluated qualitatively, as a composition analysis can be determined via the spectrometer. Important: in LIBS and XRF analysis, only a partial area is analyzed close to the surface. Nevertheless, this method is advantageous, as an online evaluation of a relatively representative proportion of the sorted product is analyzed. Especially in relation to the classic sampling method, which evaluates a relatively small quantity with a time delay.
• principle of PFTNA o The measurement is carried out online similar to the PGNAA principle: However, this is an artificially generated neutron radiation source that can be switched off.
In principle, the online measurement technology must be able to analyze a large part of the extracted black mass online for the compounds relevant to the process. This allows process parameters to be set in a short reaction time (online), which influence the quality of the black mass (or other by-products).
In the case of black-mass recovery, it is a matter of evaluating the following parameters online:
Black-mass composition in terms of: • content of essential elements such as cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese (but as well other elements which will be of interest due to the ongoing developments in the field of battery chemistry)
• content of interfering elements such as aluminium and copper.
The online evaluation can have an influence on the quality (reduction of impurities by changing the process parameters) of the black mass, as well as additional information regarding the content of essential elements (cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese).
Both have a positive effect on the marketing value, since the black-mass normally has to be hydrometallurgical processed. However, hydrometallurgy can operate much more efficiently with a qualitative analysis of the total fraction (black mass) than with an estimation via sampling. Furthermore, the number of process steps in hydrometallurgy is reduced the lower the impurity content is. In principle, other online measurement methods can also be used.
Advantages with the invention and indication of its value (such as internal savings, reduced production or maintenance costs, increased profit or any competitive advantage):
On average today, 30-50 mass percent is recovered in the form of black mass during battery module reprocessing. These 30-50 mass percent contain » 75% of the material value of a battery module. The material value of the Black Mass depends mainly on 2 parameters: • Content of cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium. • Impurity content, e.g. aluminum and copper. By declaring the cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium content of each batch, a higher added value can already be generated in the hydrometallurgical process.
However, by process-related control or adjustment of the impurity content, a price reduction in particular can be prevented, which thus contributes to the essential value creation. Black mass qualities:
1. from first sieving step
2. after cleaning step via impact crusher and sieving
3. from exhaust air treatment and sieving
Alternative:
Black mass can be extracted via several process steps during the mechanical recycling process. Due to the fact that the Black mass is concentrated in a grain size range < 0,3 mm, normally the Black mass extraction take place via several sieving steps. On overview of typical Black mass extractions:
1. Black mass extraction (e.g. via sieving) after first crushing (and drying) step
2. Black mass extraction after foil cleaning step (aluminium and copper foil)
3. Black mass extraction from dust handling system
After the sieving process - where the black mass fraction is extracted.
For instance, PGNAA technology can measure a huge range of elements:
Battery recycling - interesting elements are the elements with the highest value
Co, Ni, Li, Mn, etc.
Battery recycling - interesting elements are the elements which reduce the value of the black mass (due to the process of the black mass treatment plants - like hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical plants)
Al, Cu, Fe, etc.
Alternative A, see Fig. 2: All separated black mass in the sorting process is fed to the online measurement equipment (PGNAA in this example). The analyzed black mass can then be stored: As full batch of the (daily) production; or;
Alternative B, see Fig. 3:
In several smaller batches of the (daily) production
The batch size is freely adjustable, but usually in units of > 100kg and < 5,000kg. The individually stored batches (e.g. BigBags) can subsequently and optionally be mixed according to customer specifications, i. e. minimum (value materials such as cobalt, nickel, lithium , manganese) and maximum values (copper, aluminium, ferrous) of the elements in the overall composition of the black mass.
The measuring device may comprise a neutron source, so that black mass passing the image of the measuring device is irradiated with neutrons. The gamma radiation thereby emitted by the black mass is recorded by at least one detector of the measuring device.
The gamma radiation absorbed by the at least one detector of the measuring device is analyzed by a calculation device, which may also be formed as part of the measuring device. The equipment may include a computer or the similar. The measuring device then calculates based on the absorbed gamma radiation an online composition information about the composition of the instant analyzed black mass. A control signal is calculated and is sent to an upstream processing step for adjusting the process parameters, preferably according to a pre-defined scheme. This can be calculated and controlled by a computer.
Since with the measuring device the entire content of the black mass is completely analyzed in its entirety, the composition information determined in this way is very reliable for the overall composition of the black mass. By this the analyzed black mass can be identified, priced and used purposefully.
Compared to the sampling and subsequent analysis of a few grams of black mass commonly used today according to the state of the art, the sampling error can be completely eliminated with the invention.
To assign the composition information to the individual black mass product at an instant time, the black mass can be assigned in particular downstream bins or transport routes.
The technique of PGNAA is known as such and is not explained in detail here. In this context, reference is made, for example, to EP 3 393 687 B1. Therefore, measuring / analyzing equipment and principles for prompt gamma neutron activation analysis are basically known in the art. The same applies in general to LIBS equipment, PFTNA equipment and XRF equipment.

Claims

Claims
1. A method for online analyzing a composition of a black mass in a battery recycling process, the black mass being processed in at least one upstream process step, wherein; the black mass from said process step is measured online in the process for important elements by being irradiated by at least one source, in which the radiation emitted by the said black mass is absorbed by at least one detector, and in which, based on the radiation absorbed by the at least one detector, a composition information of the composition of the black mass is determined, preferably by a computer or the similar, wherein, the composition information is processed to provide a signal to a controller, preferably a computer or PLC or the similar, that controls at least one parameter of the said at least one upstream process step, either in a realtime manner or ad hoc.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein; the irradiation is done by one neutron source according to the PGNAA or PFTNA principle, in which the gamma radiation emitted by the said black mass is absorbed by at least one detector and a composition information of the black mass is determined.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein; the irradiation is done by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) in which the radiation emitted by the said black mass is absorbed by at least one detector and a composition information of the black mass is determined.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the irradiation is done by a laser and a composition information of the black mass is determined by a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) with a LIBS module and a composition of the black mass is determined.
5. A method according to claim 1 -4, wherein the said process step is a sieving step.
6. A method according to claim 1 -4 wherein; the said process step is a milling or crushing step.
7. A method according to claim 1 -4, wherein; the said process step is a liberation step.
8. A method according to claim 1 -7 wherein; a value for the weight of the black mass is determined, in particular measured.
9. A method according to claim 1 -7, wherein; the composition information of the black mass comprises a value for the content of at least one element, preferably values for the respective content of several elements.
10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein; the composition information is assigned to the black mass when stored in a certain bin or dispatched in a certain transport route.
11 . A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein; batches of black mass are sorted depending on the specific composition information.
12. Apparatus for the instant analysis and / or sorting of a stream of black mass in a battery recycling process, wherein; there is provided for a transport system for transporting black mass from the process, and that the black mass measured online in the process for important elements using PGNNA, PFTNA, XRF, LIBS or similar equipment, where the black mass is analyzed online in the process for important elements by being irradiated by at least one source, in which the radiation emitted by the said black mass is absorbed by at least one detector, and in which, based on the radiation absorbed by the at least one detector, a composition information of the composition of the black mass is determined by processing by said equipment, preferably by a computer or PLC, wherein, the composition information is transmitted to, and preferably processed by a computer or PLC to provide a signal to a controller that controls at least one parameter of the said at least one upstream process step, either in a real time manner or ad hoc manner.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein; the transport system comprises one or more belt conveyors for bulk material.
14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein; it further comprising a weighing device, in particular a belt scale, for determining the weight of black mass.
15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein; it further comprising a sorting device for sorting black mass based on the composition information determined for the instantly measured black mass.
PCT/EP2024/068333 2023-07-07 2024-06-28 A method and apparatus for analysis of materials Pending WO2025011985A1 (en)

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