Abstract: A waste lithium-ion battery processing method is a method of processing a waste lithium-ion battery whose cathode active material contains phosphorus to recover lithium from the waste lithium-ion battery. The method includes: a thermal decomposition step of roasting the waste lithium-ion battery to thermally decompose the waste lithium-ion battery to produce a roasted product that contains the cathode active material; and a recovery step of immersing the produced roasted product in water to elute the lithium from the roasted product into the water, and then recovering the lithium. The thermal decomposition step includes: a roasting step of roasting the waste lithium-ion battery at a predetermined first temperature; and a mixing step of, before the roasting step, mixing a non-lithium alkali metal salt into the cathode active material of the waste lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: A waste lithium-ion battery processing system is a system for processing a waste lithium-ion battery, the system performing roasting a waste lithium-ion battery whose cathode active material contains phosphorus to obtain a roasted product and immersing the roasted product in water to elute lithium from the roasted product into the water, thereby recovering the lithium from the waste lithium-ion battery. The system includes: mixing equipment that mixes a non-lithium alkali metal salt into the cathode active material contained in the waste lithium-ion battery; and a roaster that roasts, at a predetermined first temperature, a mixture that is obtained from mixing by the mixing equipment. The mixing equipment kneads the alkali metal salt into the cathode active material while grinding the alkali metal salt.

Abstract: A medical device includes: a first sterilized insertion device including an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a subject, and a cover surrounding a distal end portion of the insertion portion. The cover is configured to be teared by receiving external force so as to make an opening in the cover for exposing the distal end portion.

Abstract: A system for processing a waste lithium-ion battery includes: a first aqueous solution generator that includes a first elution tank storing water, and that immerses an active material taken out from the waste lithium-ion battery in the water in the first elution tank and subjects the active material to carbon dioxide bubbling in the first elution tank to generate an aqueous solution of pH 5.5 to 8.5, in which lithium contained in the active material is eluted; a first solid-liquid separator that removes a solid component from the aqueous solution generated by the first aqueous solution generator; a first crystallizer that causes lithium carbonate to be deposited from the aqueous solution, from which the solid component has been removed by the first solid-liquid separator; and a second solid-liquid separator that performs solid-liquid separation on slurry containing the lithium carbonate deposited in the first crystallizer to take out the lithium carbonate.

Abstract: A waste lithium-ion battery roasting apparatus includes: a transport mechanism including a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body containing an internal atmosphere that is a reducing atmosphere or a low-oxygen atmosphere; a heating mechanism that heats an outer wall of the cylindrical body to increase an internal temperature of the cylindrical body, and controls heating temperatures individually at which the heating mechanism heats the outer wall at different respective positions in a transporting direction in which the transport mechanism transports a waste lithium-ion battery; and a controller that controls the heating temperatures, at which the heating mechanism heats the outer wall, in accordance with a transporting speed at which the transport mechanism transports the waste lithium-ion battery, such that a temperature increase rate of the waste lithium-ion battery transported inside the cylindrical body is a predetermined temperature increase rate.

Abstract: A system for and a method of processing a waste lithium-ion battery make it possible to improve heat treatment efficiency and to heat-treat a large-sized waste lithium-ion battery without disassembling the battery. One example of the system for processing a waste lithium-ion battery includes a heater that heat-treats a waste lithium-ion battery at a heating temperature of lower than 400° C. to decompose and remove an electrolyte solution from the waste lithium-ion battery.