AUGUST 14, 2024

Recycling of lithium ion batteries has led into a new market for Vincent screw presses. To be recycled, these batteries must be shredded for recovery of the valuable metals they are made with. The batteries can overheat, even catch fire, in the process. As a result, water is sprayed on them. Separating this water turns out to be an ideal application for Vincent screw presses.

There are two types of these batteries: they have cells in them which are either spiral wound or flat sheet.

The spiral wound is the most common. For example, the most common size is the 18-650, 18 mm diameter by 65 mm long, slightly larger than an AA alkaline battery. They have thin steel casings. Inside of each is a stack of cells, each about a half inch wide, half an inch in diameter. Each cell is wound with the cathodes and anodes wound in this form: a strip-layer of insulating plastic film; the anode (a strip of copper coated with graphite); a strip of insulating plastic film; the diode (a strip of aluminum coated with black mass); a strip of plastic film. The strips of plastic, copper, and aluminum are all about 24 inches long, one half inch wide.

Typical places where spiral wound batteries are used is in power tools, solar panels, radio communication equipment, on up to some electric automobiles.

Flat sheet batteries are the kind found in cell phones and laptop computers.

A recycling plant shreds LION batteries and makes them into four products: black mass, copper, aluminum, and steel. Also, there is graphite black powder; it gets all over the place. In fact, it may be what gives black mass its name.

The valuable component is the black mass. It is a powder made of lithium, manganese, nickel, and cobalt. The black mass is sold to firms which sinter it to recover the valuable manganese, nickel, and cobalt. In the screw press operation, some of it comes out with the press liquor, which typically goes to a plate and frame filter press for dewatering.

The rest of the black mass comes out with the press cake. Typically, the cake is split into coarse and fine particles. The fines are black mass.

The coarse particles of press cake are separated into copper and aluminum, and these are sold to firms which can process these metals. The carbon steel is separated separately, using magnetic separation equipment.

There is some potential for selling the insulating plastic to plastic recyclers. However, ABS plastic from some battery housings which is present in this waste presents difficulties.

Here is a link to a video showing a trial run at the Tampa plant:
5.5 min – CP-4 Press – BATTERY RECYCLING
Video link https://youtu.be/9kjMrKHJsY8

Typically the remaining moisture content in the press cake runs around 25%.

ISSUE #356