Abstract: A Li-ion cathode material is prepared by a multi-stage lithiation process that separates a total amount of lithium called for by the recycled battery to be used in a series of sintering stages. A leaching, ratio adjustment and coprecipitation sequence forms a cathode precursor having a predetermined ratio of metallic elements from a comingled recycling stream of Li-ion batteries. The precursor is sintered with a lithium salt in a sequence of stages, each having a portion of the total lithium quantity, for a predetermined duration and temperature. The initial sintering stage tends to define the crystallinity of the resulting active cathode material and has a particle size determined at least in part by the portion of lithium at each stage.

Abstract: A method of producing a cathode material precursor having low levels of Cu impurities is described. Heat treating a black mass from a recycled lithium-ion battery stream, wherein the black mass comprises copper metal and cathode material comprising nickel, followed by leaching of the heat-treated black mass with an aqueous acid forms an acidic aqueous leach solution comprising nickel metal, cathode metal salts, and copper salts. The copper salts have been found to react with the nickel metal in the aqueous leach solution to form copper metal, which can be readily removed from the acidic aqueous leach solution. Coprecipitation of the cathode metal salts and the nickel salts form nearly Cu-free cathode material precursor.

Abstract: Methods are provided for preparing an aqueous nickel salt solution from an aqueous mixed metal salt solution comprising cobalt, manganese, and nickel salts and one or more impurity salts. The method includes precipitating a first group of impurity salts and the manganese salt to form an aqueous pre-extraction solution. The aqueous pre-extraction solution and an organic extractant solution are mixed to form an aqueous raffinate phase and a loaded organic phase, wherein the aqueous raffinate phase is the aqueous nickel salt solution.

Abstract: A method for recycling All solid state batteries (ASSBs), the method including: receiving a recycling stream of ASSBs comprising an electrolyte comingled with at least one charge material; introducing a passivating substance for neutralizing an undesired reaction or discharge of the charge materials from the batteries defining the recycling stream; agitating the batteries in the recycling stream in the presence of the passivating substance for liberating the charge materials and electrolyte stored therein; and recovering the charge material and the electrolyte from the agitated batteries, and such that the passivating substance combines with the agitated batteries for generating a beneficial product thereby recycling ASSBs.

Abstract: Methods are provided for forming iron phosphate. In a first stage, heat treating lithium iron phosphate black mass and selectively leaching lithium from the heat treated lithium iron phosphate black mass with an oxidative leaching solution forms a semi-delithiated iron phosphate black mass. In a second stage, the semi-delithiated iron phosphate black mass and a pre-leaching solution comprising dilute acid and an oxidizing agent are mixed, and in a third stage the remaining iron phosphate in the solid phase and an iron phosphate leaching solution are mixed to form a leachate comprising iron phosphate.

Abstract: Methods are provided for preparing an aqueous nickel salt solution from an aqueous mixed metal salt solution comprising cobalt, manganese, and nickel salts and one or more impurity salts. The method includes precipitating a first group of impurity salts and the manganese salt to form an aqueous pre-extraction solution. The aqueous pre-extraction solution and an organic extractant solution are mixed to form an aqueous raffinate phase and a loaded organic phase, wherein the aqueous raffinate phase is the aqueous nickel salt solution.

Abstract: A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.

Abstract: A guiding sheath has a braided layer for improved deflection characteristics and ring electrodes for electrical sensing, mapping and visualization, wherein lead wires for the ring electrodes are passed through lumened tubing position under the braided layer in a proximal portion of the guiding sheath shaft and above the braided layer in a distal portion of the guiding sheath shaft. Moreover, the hemostatic valve includes an improved friction ring with air vents to reduce the risk of air being introduced into the valve.

Abstract: Methods are provided for removing impurities from recycled battery black mass. The method includes mixing a delithiated black mass with a first solution to form a pre-leached delithiated black mass and a pre-leach solution, separating the pre-leached delithiated black mass from the pre-leach solution, mixing the separated pre-leached delithiated black mass and a second aqueous solution to form a mixture comprising graphite and a leachate solution, and separating the graphite and the leachate solution. The pre-leach solution is comprised of a first group of impurity ions while the leachate solution is comprised of a second group of impurity ions and cathode metal ions.

Abstract: A method for recycling anode materials from a comingled recycling stream derived from exhausted Li ion batteries includes receiving a precipitate quantity remaining from a cathode recycling stream. This precipitate is almost exclusively graphite used for the anode material in the recycled batteries. The precipitate results from an acid leach of charge material from the lithium battery recycling stream. A strong acid is added to the precipitate for removal of residual cathode and separator materials and the mixture heated. The strong acid removes residual aluminum oxide from the separator by transformation to aluminum sulfate. Washing the acid treated precipitate removes water soluble contaminants, such as the aluminum sulfate reacted from the aluminum oxide and sulfuric acid, to generate substantially pure graphite. Any residual material remaining from the cathode recycling phase is also removed.

Abstract: A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.

Abstract: A recycling process for cathode material of a Li-ion battery generates highly pure cathode material precursor from a leaching process using either heat treatment or an oxidizing agent. The highly pure cathode material includes cathode material metallic elements of Ni, Mn and Co, leached from a granular recycling stream of waste batteries, by a coprecipitation process that defines a molar ratio of the cathode material metals corresponding to a prescribed battery chemistry. The result is a precursor cathode active material (pCAM) in a form that may be sintered with lithium (typically lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide) to form the cathode active material for the recycled battery, including the charge material metals in the prescribed ratio.

Abstract: A method of producing a cathode material precursor having low levels of Cu impurities is described. Heat treating a black mass from a recycled lithium-ion battery stream, wherein the black mass comprises copper metal and cathode material comprising nickel, followed by leaching of the heat-treated black mass with an aqueous acid forms an acidic aqueous leach solution comprising nickel metal, cathode metal salts, and copper salts. The copper salts have been found to react with the nickel metal in the aqueous leach solution to form copper metal, which can be readily removed from the acidic aqueous leach solution. Coprecipitation of the cathode metal salts and the nickel salts form nearly Cu-free cathode material precursor.

Abstract: Recycling of lithium-ion batteries includes the steps of leaching a black mass including cathode and anode materials with a leaching agent, optionally including an oxidizing agent or reducing agent, to form an aqueous acidic leach solution of metal salts comprising metal salts and a plurality of impurity salts. The impurity salts are removed in various purification phases including treating with an oxygen-containing gas and optional electrodeposition and ion exchange steps, each at specified pH ranges. The amounts of the metal salts in the treated aqueous acidic leach solution are then adjusted to a desired ratio and coprecipitated to form a precursor cathode active material.

Abstract: In a battery recycling process, a recycling stream including charge material metals from exhausted Li-ion batteries is aggregated or otherwise comminuted to generate recycled battery charge material having comparable or improved cycle life as well as recycled charge material precursor having fewer cracking defects using doping substances in both a coprecipitation phase and a sintering phase of the recycling sequence. Prior to coprecipitation of a cathode material precursor, a leach solution of comingled charge material metals is produced, the ratio of the charge material metals is adjusted based on recycled battery specifications, and a relatively small quantity of a first dopant is added. The doped precursor, a lithium salt, and a second dopant are combined and sintered to form a doped cathode material having a single crystal morphology and a higher tap density than the doped cathode precursor.

Abstract: A Li-ion cathode material is prepared by a multi-stage lithiation process that separates a total amount of lithium called for by the recycled battery to be used in a series of sintering stages. A leaching, ratio adjustment and coprecipitation sequence forms a cathode precursor having a predetermined ratio of metallic elements from a comingled recycling stream of Li-ion batteries. The precursor is sintered with a lithium salt in a sequence of stages, each having a portion of the total lithium quantity, for a predetermined duration and temperature. The initial sintering stage tends to define the crystallinity of the resulting active cathode material and has a particle size determined at least in part by the portion of lithium at each stage.

Abstract: A curing process for cathode material alleviates surface defects on particles of the cathode material for improving battery performance. Heat treating a granular form of the cathode material in a flow of an oxygen-containing gas removes surface defects on the cathode material particles that have been mechanically deagglomerated. This results in significant improvement in both the rate of charge/discharge and the number of recharge cycles.

Abstract: Cathode material from exhausted lithium ion batteries are dissolved in a solution for extracting the useful elements Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Al (Aluminum) and Mn (manganese) to produce active cathode materials for new batteries. The solution includes compounds of desirable materials such as cobalt, nickel, aluminum and manganese dissolved as compounds from the exhausted cathode material of spent cells. Depending on a desired proportion, or ratio, of the desired materials, raw materials are added to the solution to achieve the desired ratio of the commingled compounds for the recycled cathode material for new cells. The desired materials precipitate out of solution without extensive heating or separation of the desired materials into individual compounds or elements. The resulting active cathode material has the predetermined ratio for use in new cells, and avoids high heat typically required to separate the useful elements because the desired materials remain commingled in solution.

Abstract: A battery recycling process recovers lithium from nickel-rich cathode material in a recycling stream of end-of-life batteries. A dilute acid leach of a high nickel content cathode material contains a mixture of sulfuric acid based on a molar quantity of lithium in the cathode material. The highly selective leach generates a lithium rich solution with a small amount of nickel removable by nanofiltration to achieve a highly efficient recovery of the lithium contained in the recycling stream. A quantity of the leach acid based on the lithium content and a quantity of water based on a total black mass of the recycling stream results in a highly selective, near pure lithium leach when the recycling stream results from high nickel NMC batteries such as 811.

Abstract: A battery recycling process aggregates a recycling stream including charge material metals from exhausted Li-ion batteries and generates recycled battery charge material having comparable or improved cycle life as well as recycled charge material precursor having fewer cracking defects using doping substances in a coprecipitation phase in the recycling sequence. In a coprecipitation process, a solution of comingled charge material metals is produced, the ratio of the charge material metals is adjusted based on recycled battery specifications, and a relatively small quantity of a doping salt is added.