Abstract: A method for obtaining a metal salt from a spent lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may include contacting a leaching solvent to a portion of the spent lithium-ion battery to form a first dispersion. The first dispersion is heated to a temperature in a range from 50° C. to 90° C. by applying microwave radiation. The temperature of the first dispersion is maintained to be in the range from 50° C. to 90° C. for a period in a range from 10 seconds to 5 minutes by further applying microwave radiation to the heated first dispersion. The first dispersion is filtered to obtain a first filtrate. A first base is contacted with the first filtrate to increase a pH of the first filtrate to a first predetermined value to precipitate a first metal salt.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a metal salt from a spent lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may include contacting a leaching solvent to a portion of the spent lithium-ion battery to form a first dispersion. The first dispersion is heated to a temperature in a range from 50° C. to 90° C. by applying microwave radiation. The temperature of the first dispersion is maintained to be in the range from 50° C. to 90° C. for a period in a range from 10 seconds to 5 minutes by further applying microwave radiation to the heated first dispersion. The first dispersion is filtered to obtain a first filtrate. A first base is contacted with the first filtrate to increase a pH of the first filtrate to a first predetermined value to precipitate a first metal salt.

Abstract: A method of discharging a spent lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may include contacting external electrodes of the spent Li-ion battery to a discharging solution. The discharging solution including an aqueous solution of salts having a same anion and a redox couple as cations. The redox couple includes a first cation of a metal having a first oxidation state and a second cation of the same metal having a second oxidation state different from the first oxidation state.

Abstract: A method for separating black mass from electrodes of spent lithium ion batteries includes separating electrode pieces from remainder of material of a portion of a spent lithium ion battery. The electrode pieces are heated to a temperature in a range from about 200° C. to about 350° C. for a predetermined period of time to obtain pre-heated electrode pieces. The pre-heated electrode pieces are disposed in a neutral liquid to obtain a first suspension. Ultrasound vibrations are applied to the first suspension to separate the black mass and the binder from the metal pieces. Metal pieces, binder material and black mass from the electrode pieces are then segregated to obtain black mass.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a metal salt from a spent lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may include contacting a leaching solvent to a portion of the spent lithium-ion battery to form a first dispersion. The first dispersion is heated to a temperature in a range from 50° C. to 90° C. by applying microwave radiation. The temperature of the first dispersion is maintained to be in the range from 50° C. to 90° C. for a period in a range from 10 seconds to 5 minutes by further applying microwave radiation to the heated first dispersion. The first dispersion is filtered to obtain a first filtrate. The first dispersion is then filtered to separate undissolved material from a first filtrate. The undissolved precipitate is dehydrated to obtain the black mass.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a metal salt from a spent lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may include contacting a leaching solvent to a portion of the spent lithium-ion battery to form a first dispersion. The first dispersion is heated to a temperature in a range from 50° C. to 90° C. by applying microwave radiation. The temperature of the first dispersion is maintained to be in the range from 50° C. to 90° C. for a period in a range from 10 seconds to 5 minutes by further applying microwave radiation to the heated first dispersion. The first dispersion is filtered to obtain a first filtrate. A first base is contacted with the first filtrate to increase a pH of the first filtrate to a first predetermined value to precipitate a first metal salt.

Abstract: A method of obtaining an electrode metal from an electrode of a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery includes separating an electrode portion from a spent Li-ion battery. A leaching solvent is contacted to the separated electrode portion to form an electrode dispersion. The electrode dispersion is heated to a temperature in a range from about 50° C. to about 90° C. by applying microwave radiation. The temperature of the electrode dispersion is maintained to be in the range from about 50° C. to about 90° C. for a period in a range from about 10 seconds to about 5 minutes by further applying microwave radiation to the heated electrode dispersion. The electrode dispersion is then filtered to obtain the electrode metal.