Abstract: The battery contains at least one electrode such as graphite that intercalates a first species from the electrolyte disposed in a first compartment such as bromine to form a thermally decomposable complex during discharge. The other electrode can also be graphite which supplies another species such as lithium to the electrolyte in a second electrode compartment. The thermally decomposable complex is stable at room temperature but decomposes at elevated temperatures such as 50.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. The electrode compartments are separated by a selective ion permeable membrane that is impermeable to the first species. Charging is effected by selectively heating the first electrode.

Abstract: An electrode plate in which electrode active material powder and an electrode mixture layer mainly composed of a thermoplastic binder are held on a conductive substrate is crushed. Then, the crushed materials are mixed with organic solvent so that a coating material made of the crushed electrode is prepared. The coating material made of the crushed electrode is applied to the surface of the conductive substrate so that an electrode is manufactured. As an alternative to this, an electrode mixture coating material made of electrode active material powder, thermoplastic resin and organic solvent is dried so that a solid electrode is obtained. Crushed materials obtained by crushing the solid electrode are mixed with organic solvent so that a coating material made of the crushed electrode is prepared. The coating material made of the crushed electrode is applied to the conductive substrate so that an electrode is manufactured.

Abstract: A method for dissolving a hardened glass solder, a method for separating components joined by a glass solder, a method for disassembling a fuel cell, and an apparatus for disassembling a fuel cell, include heating the hardened glass solder in a melt of a hydroxide. As a result, components which had been joined through the use of the hardened glass solder are able to be reused or subjected to a recycling process.

Abstract: A composite electrical battery including a primary electrochemical cell and a fully or partially discharged rechargeable electrochemical cell. The rechargeable electrochemical cell is electrically connected in parallel to the primary electrochemical cell. The open circuit voltage of the primary electrochemical cell is significantly lower than the open circuit voltage of the rechargeable cell when the rechargeable cell is fully charged. The self discharge rate of the rechargeable electrochemical cell after electrically connecting the rechargeable electrochemical cell to the primary electrochemical cell is less than a predetermined self discharge rate. The composite battery has an improved current delivery capability for an extended life span compared to the primary electrochemical cell by itself. A method is provided for forming such a composite electrical battery.

Abstract: Copper and nickel are extracted from their elemental state, complex sulfides, ores, and other materials such as scrap by leaching them with a solution containing halogen salts: bromine/bromide, or iodide/iodine, oxygen and sodium or potassium nitrate. The invented process is particularly effective for chalcopyrite and pentlandite in an autoclave at a temperature of 100.degree. C.-150.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for reducing Carbon contained in hydrogen storage alloys recovered from negative electrodes of nickel/hydrogen storage alloy secondary batteries of misch metal and alloys thereof as raw materials of hydrogen storage alloys for negative electrodes of nickel/hydrogen secondary batteries by adding titanium or zirconium or oxides of these elements, and melting in an inert gas atmosphere or in vacuum.

Abstract: A recovering process for recovering constituent components of a battery having at least an active material layer formed on a collector, said process includes at least a step of separating said active material layer from said collector by applying thermal shock to the electrode by way of at least cooling the electrode.

Abstract: A transportable container for refueling a refuelable battery includes a case, an electrolyte reservoir within the case, a first valve connected to the electrolyte reservoir, a fuel compartment within the case, a second valve connected to the fuel compartment, and a conduit connected to the electrolyte reservoir and the fuel compartment. When the transportable container is attached to a refuelable battery, a closed flow circuit for the circulation of electrolyte is defined. Fuel particles and electrolyte are fed from the transportable container into the refuelable battery. When the refuelable battery is discharged, the transportable container, containing spent electrolyte and reaction products, is detached from the refuelable battery.

Abstract: An improved method for the recovery of lead from exhausted lead-acid storage batteries, comprising removal from the storage battery of the sulphuric acid solution, the coating element, the separators between the electrodes and the metal part i.e. grids, connectors and poles and milling of the remaining electrode paste of the storage battery to obtain an extremely fine powder (pastel),characterised by the following operations:a) treatment of the resulting powder with an aqueous saline solution, with a pH of between 0 and 8, capable of solubilising Pb (II) sulphate and oxide, leaving Pb (IV) oxide unsolubilised;b) reduction to metal lead of the bivalent lead ion, present in the soluble fraction, using metal iron, preferably in slight excess with respect to the stoichiometric proportions;c) reduction of the tetravalent lead oxide; andd) recovery of the salts used in the process step a) by elimination of the iron sulphate that has formed. FIG.

Abstract: After opening spent NaS cells, one or more NaS cells are loaded to and maintained in separator plates within a heating tank in such a way that the opening or openings thereof are oriented downwards. After no less than the time required to melt the Na and after Na has drained from the opening, the NaS cells from which Na has drained are removed from the separator plates within the heating tank and, in addition to this, a number of other opened NaS cells equal in number to those removed are loaded into and maintained in the empty spaces within the separator plates from which these NaS cells have been removed. In the recovery of Na, this method is efficient and time reducing and, furthermore, according to this method it is possible to make recovery facilities simpler and smaller.

Abstract: A dental floss comprising a multifilament yarn having at least one coating applied thereon. The yarn comprising the floss is substantially untwisted and comprises entanglement nodes having a frequency of between about 0.5 and about 3.5 inches. The yarn has a basis weight between about 500 and about 1200 denier. The coating applied to the yarn comprises a water-insoluble binder. Optionally, the floss may be coated with a second coating material comprising a water soluble substance such as polyethylene glycol for delivery of additives or additional flavors. With little or no twist and an optimum degree of air-entanglement, the yarn is held together loosely enough to allow a significant amount of coating material to be impregnated between the filaments but tight enough to provide shred and fray resistance and still have supple feel.

Abstract: A device and method for reducing crystal formations, which have a range of resonant frequencies, on electrode plates of an electrical battery, is described. A signal generator is connected to the primary winding of a transformer, having primary and secondary windings, so as to deliver a transformed alternating current signal to the secondary winding. A rectifier is connected to the secondary winding to convert the transformed signal to a train of direct current pulses at a frequency within the range of resonant frequencies, and an output circuit is connected to the rectifier to deliver the train of pulses to the battery causing the crystals to crack and redissolve into the battery solution. There is also a provision for adjusting the frequency of the alternating current signal.

Abstract: Li batteries are cryogenically cooled, comminuted and reacted with water having its pH adjusted with the addition of LiOH. The resulting salts are substantially dewatered and optionally further purified in an electrolytic cell to yield substantially uncontaminated LiOH for reuse.

Abstract: To provide a method for treating nonaqueous solvent type cells, in particular, a method by which lithium cells can be treated and resources can be recovered in safe and in a good efficiency, a method for recovering resources of lithium cells comprises the steps of cutting or boring a lithium cell comprised of at least a negative electrode active material, a separator, a positive electrode active material, an electrolyte solution (electrolytic solution), a collector and a cell casing, in an ignition preventing means; washing the lithium cell thus opened, with an organic solvent to recover the electrolytic solution; reacting lithium with a reacting agent to recover lithium in the form of lithium hydroxide or a lithium salt; carrying out filtration to recover the separator, the collector and a positive electrode material comprising the positive electrode active material; and carrying out distillation to recover the organic solvent.

Abstract: A treating fluid is in contact with a negative electrode containing lithium of a lithium cell under a first condition to react a surface portion of the negative electrode, and a treating fluid is in contact with lithium existing inside an article formed on the surface of the above-described negative electrode under a second condition. The cells can be effectively treated under safety condition to collect either the valuable substances, or the cell constructive components.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating lead paste from exhausted batteries. Calcium sulfite and calcium thiosulfite are formed by the reaction:3Ca(OH).sub.2 +4S.degree..fwdarw.2CaS+CaS.sub.2 O.sub.3 +3H.sub.2 O(1).The CaS and CaS.sub.2 O.sub.3 is reacted with sodium sulfate to effect the double exchange reaction:2CaS+CaS.sub.2 O.sub.3 +3Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 .fwdarw.2Na.sub.2 S+Na.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.3 +3CaSO.sub.4 (2).The sodium sulfide and sodium thiosulfate is then reacted with the lead paste for converting the various lead paste components (PbSO.sub.4, PbO and PbO.sub.2) into PbS with the concomitant production of sodium sulfate. The sodium sulfate can be recycled to reaction (2).

Abstract: The invention concerns membrane electrolyzers suitable for processes such as water or hydrogen halides electrolysis, as well as electrochemical generators fed with gases containing hydrogen and oxygen for direct conversion into electric energy. These apparatuses generally consist of a filter-press assembly of conductive bipolar plates (2), electrodes (4), sealing gaskets (5) membranes (6) and internal longitudinal ducts for feeding the reactants and withdrawing the products and residual reactants. The invention is directed to the method for repairing said electrolyzers or generators when an elementary cell is malfunctioning. This method comprises making at least two perforations in the peripheral area of the bipolar plates (2) and/or gaskets (5) of the malfunctioning cell to reach distribution channels (9, 11) which connect the compartments containing the electrodes (4) with said longitudinal ducts.

Abstract: In the recycling of used nickel/metal hydride storage batteries, the battery scrap is dissolved in sulphuric acid after mechanical separation of the coarse constituents by magnetic and air separation. A solvent extraction is performed with the digestion solution, from which the rare earths (from the hydrogen-storage alloys in the negative electrodes) and iron and aluminum have been selected by precipitation, under conditions pH, choice of solvent, volumetric ratio of the phases) which are such that the aqueous phase contains nickel and cobalt in the same atomic ratio as that in which they were present in the scrap. This makes possible a joint recovery by simultaneous electrolysis, in which process the deposition product forms a master alloy which can be used, together with the precipitated rare earths which have been electrometallurgically reprocessed as misch metal, for the production of fresh hydrogen-storage alloys.

Abstract: A process for purification of lithium battery electrolyte solutions is provided whereby the concentrations of trace amounts of impurities such as water in the electrolyte solutions can be reduced. Such electrolyte solutions generally include at least one lithium salt solute contained in at least one organic solvent. Lithium and a second metal with which lithium is capable of intercalating are first placed in electrical contact with one another and then placed in the electrolyte solution. Preferably, aluminum is used as the second metal and the two metals are provided as separate layers that are pressed together in a rolling mill to form a bimetallic sheet. The solution containing the bimetallic sheet is agitated to encourage the reactions which reduce the levels of impurities such as water in the electrolyte solution. The resulting purified solution is then filtered to remove any remaining metal or reaction products.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of lead from spent battery paste and lead containing materials. The process includes the steps of calcination of a spent paste treated with an alkali carbonate or hydroxide or any mixture thereof, and elemental sulphur at a temperature of up to 600.degree. C., followed by washing with water. The calcined and washed paste is dissolved in an alkali molten electrolyte, and lead is electrowinned from the alkali molten electrolyte. The spent electrolyte is reused in the process.

Abstract: A high temperature storage battery comprises a battery housing defining a cell storage cavity, and a plurality of non-aqueous high temperature electrochemical cells within the storage cavity. A base is provided below the cells, and there is a reservoir for released cell reactants in or below the base. At least one access opening through which reactants which are accidentally released from the cells can enter the reservoir, is provided.

Abstract: A method of recovering useful materials from spent secondary batteries for electric vehicles according to the present invention involves a step of cutting a spent secondary battery for electric vehicles into a cover portion and a housing portion, a step of taking out and separating electrode plates from the housing portion, and a step of crushing the electrode plates and dividing the crushed materials into negative electrode substrate, positive electrode plates including a nickel compound and active materials, and separators through the use of pneumatically separating and sieving.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of metallic lead from exhausted lead-acid batteries. According to the invention, the metallic scrap obtained thereof is treated by a smelting operation which is carried out under a layer of a molten flux. The flux comprises alkali hydroxide and optionally also carbonate(s) and sulfate(s) of said alkali. The temperature which is maintained during the smelting is between 350.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. and most preferably in the range of between 450.degree. C. to 550.degree. C. The preferred weight ratio between the metallic scrap and the flux is between 15 to 45. Generally, the alkali flux is selected from sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide and mixtures thereof. The process is characterized by a very extent of lead recovery compared with the known processes and absence of exhausted gases.

Abstract: The method of recovering useful materials from spent secondary batteries for electric vehicles comprises a step of separating spent secondary batteries for electric vehicles into a cover portion and a housing portion, a step of taking out electrode plates to separate them from the housing portion, a step of disassembling electrode plates into positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates, and a step of cutting the pole section so that the positive electrode plates can be separated from the negative electrode plates.

Abstract: A process for recovering Na from a spent NaS cell, includes the steps of forming an opening in a spent NaS cell, flowing down molten Na from an interior of the NaS cell through the opening in a heating oil vessel, passing the molten Na through a filter placed in the heating oil vessel to remove metallic powder, collecting the molten Na in a bottom portion of the heating oil vessel by utilizing a difference in specific gravity between the molten Na and an oil, and taking out the Na from an outer side of the filter.

Abstract: process is disclosed for disposing of a spent NaS cell, which process comprises the steps of: cutting an opening in the NaS cell for flowing out sodium from the cell and allowing an inner tube to be pulled out from the NaS cell; placing oil on sodium inside the inner tube of the spent NaS cell in a given thickness, while the cut opening is directed upwardly; setting the spent NaS cell in a workpiece-setting vessel outside a heating oil vessel, while the cut opening is directed downwardly, thereby flowing out the oil on the sodium inside the inner tube, said workpiece-setting vessel being provided at a bottom with a hole for allowing an inner tube to be pulled out from the the spent NaS cell, immersing the spent NaS cell set in the workpiece-setting vessel into oil in the heating oil vessel in the state that the cut opening is directed downwardly; sodium is melted in the oil of the heating oil vessel and flown out therein through the cut opening; and then the inner tube is pulled out from the NaS cell.

Abstract: Lead-contaminated soil and battery casings are remediated using a plasma arc furnace which pyrolyzes the soil and waste battery casings so as to form a vitrified slag and a combustible gas, respectively. The combustible gas along with volatilized lead (and other heavy metals which may be present) are transferred to, and used as a primary fuel by, a conventional smelting furnace. The volatilized lead that is entrained in the combustible gas is thus transferred to the recovery and environmental protection/control equipment associated with the smelting furnace or other conversion system. The soil, on the other hand, is converted into a non-toxic (i.e., according to the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure) vitrified slag by the plasma arc which may be crushed and used as a commercial material (e.g., roadway aggregate, asphalt filler material and the like) or simply transferred to a landfill where it poses no environmental threat.

Abstract: The efficacy of a passivating layer in a rechargeable lithium ion cell is increased by heating the charged cell and storing the charged cell for a pre-determined period of time.

Abstract: The invention resides in a process and an apparatus for the revival of nickel-cadmium batteries and cells suffering from low, zero, or negative terminal voltage and unrechargeability. The process revives the cells or batteries by the injection of a short-duration high-magnitude current pulse through them. The apparatus to carry out the process is built around a current source that is operated either manually or by a timer for the required duration.

Abstract: A processing method by which metals may be recovered at a high purity from metal-containing waste materials.The method for processing metal-containing waste materials comprises crushing a metal-containing waste material to a particle size of 1-50 mesh, separating and recovering the metal-containing particles from the crushed portion, introducing the metal-containing particles into a vacuum heating furnace, pre-heating the furnace while under suction evacuation, and then raising the temperature of the furnace in stages while continuing the vacuum suctioning, recovering the metal and non-metal vapor produced at each temperature level using a condensing and adsorbing means, and recovering the liquated metals as melts. The method may be used to process waste batteries, copper-containing waste materials and the like in the same manner to recover high-purity metals.

Abstract: The method of the present invention allows used electrolyte membranes to be easily recovered from fuel cells of relatively simple structure. A stack of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (10) is decomposed into unit cells (20), each unit cell (20) consisting of an electrolyte membrane 11 and electrodes (12,13). Each unit cell (20) is soaked in a soaking tank (51) filled with methanol and left for approximately ten minutes (see FIG. 5A). The soaking process substitutes water included in the electrolyte membrane (11) of the unit cell (20) by methanol and expands and deforms the electrolyte membrane (11), thereby dissolving a solid material caused by a proton-conductive polymer electrolyte solution working as an adhesive of joining the electrolyte membrane (11) with the electrodes (12,13). This weakens the adhesive forces at the interfaces between the electrolyte membrane (11) and the electrodes (12,13) and makes the electrolyte membrane (11) easily separable from the electrodes (12,13).

Abstract: A treating fluid is in contact with a negative electrode containing lithium of a lithium cell under a first condition to react a surface portion of the negative electrode, and a treating fluid is in contact with lithium existing inside an article formed on the surface of the above-described negative electrode under a second condition. The cells can be effectively treated under safety condition to collect either the valuable substances, or the cell constructive components.

Abstract: A safe and controllable method of treating a secondary battery having at least one component containing alkali metal, comprises the steps of opening the battery casing, and introducing a gas containing at least one of water vapor and alcohol vapor into a closed chamber containing the battery thereby to form alkali metal hydroxide. To control hydrogen concentration, the rate of introduction of water and/or alcohol vapor may be varied. Apparatus for carrying out this method is also described.

Abstract: A PbO.sub.2 cathode of a lead-acid battery is activated by electrochemical doping with colloidal solution of carbon which is subjected to electrochemical modification endowed with --C--O--O-- and C--O-- groups on its surface. The battery shows the following advantageous characteristics: (i) high charge current without extraordinary increase in the temperature; (ii) high discharge current; and (iii) the increase in the lifetime of the battery. This process is applicable for the revival of degraded batteries and formation treatment of electrodes of new batteries. Thus, lead-acid batteries of high performance can be obtained.

Abstract: A method of restoring electrochemical activity to an electrode of a battery. The battery is a bipolar, electrochemical flow battery including a predetermined number of electrochemical cells and an electrolyte. The method includes reversing the direction of the normal cycling current through the battery, and may include lowering the pH of the electrolyte in the battery.

Abstract: A treating fluid is in contact with a negative electrode containing lithium of a lithium cell under a first condition to react a surface portion of the negative electrode, and a treating fluid is in contact with lithium existing inside an article formed on the surface of the above-described negative electrode under a second condition. The cells can be effectively treated under safety condition to collect either the valuable substances, or the cell constructive components.

Abstract: A safe and controllable method of treating a secondary battery having at least one component containing alkali metal, comprises the steps of opening the battery casing, and introducing a gas containing at least one of water vapor and alcohol vapor into a closed chamber containing the battery thereby to form alkali metal hydroxide. To control hydrogen concentration, the rate of introduction of water and/or alcohol vapor may be varied. Apparatus for carrying out this method is also described.

Abstract: LiCoO.sub.2 and LiNiO.sub.2 are fully delithiated electrochemically using solid state electrolytic cells and oxidation resistant electrolytes to yield new phases of CoO.sub.2 and NiO.sub.2.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for disposing of a spent NaS cell, which process comprises the steps of: cutting an opening in the NaS cell for flowing out sodium from the cell and allowing an inner tube to be pulled out from the NaS cell; placing oil on sodium inside the inner tube of the spent NaS cell in a given thickness, while the cut opening is directed upwardly; setting the spent NaS cell in a workpiece-setting vessel outside a heating oil vessel, while the cut opening is directed downwardly, thereby flowing out the oil on the sodium inside the inner tube, said workpiece-setting vessel being provided at a bottom with a hole for allowing an inner tube to be pulled out from the the spent NaS cell, immersing the spent NaS cell set in the workpiece-setting vessel into oil in the heating oil vessel in the state that the cut opening is directed downwardly; sodium is melted in the oil of the heating oil vessel and flown out therein through the cut opening; and then the inner tube is pulled out from the NaS cell.

Abstract: A battery system (400) for use with portable electronic products which includes protection circuitry for allowing the battery system to be safely recharged in a recharging system. The battery system (400) includes cells (401) and a plurality of controls including and overcharge protection circuit (433) for limiting the amount of current to the cells (401) by a charging network and a thermistor (415) and thermistor control (417) for controlling the state of the thermistor (415) to simulate a high temperature condition allowing the charging network to switch modes and accommodate battery system (400) which does not following the charging regimen provided by charging system.

Abstract: A process for disposing of sodium sulfur cells, comprising the steps of: cross-cutting each of the cells to form an opening; setting a plurality of the cells, as one set, into a work-setting pipe unit such that the opening of each of the cells is downwardly directed; flowing down sodium from a set of the cells inside a heating oil through the opening by heating; inserting pawls of a chuck into an inner tube of each of a plurality of the cells through the opening and a bottom of the work-setting pipe unit; and extracting the inner tube from an outer tube in each of the cells.

Abstract: An improved alkali metal/mixed metal oxide electrochemical cell capable of delivering high current pulses, rapidly recovering its open circuit voltage and having high current capacity, is described. The stated benefits are realized by dissolving a carbon oxide such as CO.sub.2 in the electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for removing discharged active zinc-containing material from a mechanically rechargeable zinc battery anode, containing the same, the anode being of the type comprising a skeletal frame, including conductive metal and having a portion of a surface area thereof formed as open spaces, and an active zinc anode component compacted into a rigid static bed of active anode material encompassing the skeletal frame, and having two opposite major surfaces, the process comprising introducing the anode between a pair of spaced-apart first and second crusher plates, each of the crusher plates being provided with a plurality of pointed projections of varying heights and a plurality of recesses of varying depths, the crusher plates being aligned with each other to the effect that tips of projections of the first crusher plate substantially mutually occlude with recesses provided on the second crusher plate and tips of projections of the second crusher plate substantially mutually occlude wit

Abstract: An undervoltage recovery pulse network (500) and method used with a lithium ion battery system (400) for providing a initiation voltage to a battery controller (503) which has been operationally disabled due to an event associated with the lithium ion battery system (400). The undervoltage recovery pulse network (500) includes a switch (523) for detecting a first voltage applied to a data terminal (537) by a charging system. A coupler (525) is used for supplying a second voltage from a charging terminal (535) to the battery controller (503) to enable the battery controller from its disabled state. The battery controller (503) then connects the voltage potential of a cell (501) to the charging terminal (535) for detection by a charging system. This allows the charging system to detect an attached battery so it may apply a charging voltage to charging terminal (535).

Abstract: Rechargeable metal-air battery systems comprise a plurality of plate groups (40) disposed within a battery cell (12) and have input and output conduits (13, 14). A fluid electrolyte is circulated through the battery cell by a pump (22) and regenerated by a divester (20) for recirculation through the battery cell (12). The divester (20) divests the particles of active material suspended within the electrolyte of their oxide layer resulting from passivation caused by the electrolyte solution being saturated with oxide. The divester (20) performs its function by bringing the particles of active material into frictional contact with one another. The battery system (10) constructed in accordance with the present invention may be chemically recharged by removing the spent active material suspended within the electrolyte and replacing it with new active material.

Abstract: A mechanically-rechargeable single-cell consumer electric battery for generating up to two volts, the battery being capable of electrical recharge. The battery including a replaceable zinc anode, a housing containing the anode and provided with an aperture sealed by a removable closure, the aperture being sufficiently large to allow removal and replacement therethrough of at least the zinc anode, a cathode selected from the group including a manganese dioxide electrode, a nickel hydroxide electrode, a silver oxide electrode, and an air electrode also contained in the housing, a non-spillable electrolyte in contact with both cathode and anode, and a separator system physically separating the anode from the cathode.

Abstract: An apparatus for disposing of a plurality of sodium sulfur cells is disclosed, which comprises: a work-setting pipe unit including a plurality of cell-holding pipes, a work-setting station for setting the cells into the work-setting pipe unit, a heating oil vessel, a sodium-extracting station, an inner tube-extracting station, an unloading station where the remaining sodium sulfur cells are unloading from the work-setting pipe unit, and a transferring unit for transferring said work-setting pipe unit among said stations.

Abstract: A battery (200) includes a device (201) used for simulating a high temperature condition of a thermistor (216) located in battery (200). The battery (200) includes a charging node (203), temperature node (205) and ground node (207). A control circuit (209) is used with lithium ion cell (211) to measure voltage of lithium ion cell (211). Control circuit (209) produces a control signal when a desired voltage is reached during recharging. The control signal works with a high voltage switch (217), thermistor (216), diode (213) and resister (215) to control the voltage on temperature node (205). Any change in voltage on temperature node (205) may then be detected by an attached charging system to allow it to change its mode of operation.

Abstract: To provide a method for treating nonaqueous solvent type cells, in particular, a method by which lithium cells can be treated and resources can be recovered in safe and in a good efficiency, a method for recovering resources of lithium cells comprises the steps of cutting or boring a lithium cell comprised of at least a negative electrode active material, a separator, a positive electrode active material, an electrolyte solution (electrolytic solution), a collector and a cell casing, in an ignition preventing means; washing the lithium cell thus opened, with an organic solvent to recover the electrolytic solution; reacting lithium with a reacting agent to recover lithium in the form of lithium hydroxide or a lithium salt; carrying out filtration to recover the separator, the collector and a positive electrode material comprising the positive electrode active material; and carrying out distillation to recover the organic solvent.

Abstract: Greater energy densities can be obtained in aqueous rechargeable batteries based on the `rocking chair` principle by the use of certain polymer insertion compounds as an electrode material. Aqueous lithium ion batteries using poly(carbon disulfide) polymer as an anode have energy densities comparable to nickel metal hydride batteries.