EX 1005
`EX 1005
`
`

`

`(19) Japanese Patent Office (JP)
`
`(12) Published Patent Gazette (A)
`
`(51) Int. C1.6
`H01M 10/54
`B03B 7/00
`B09B 5/00
`C22B 7/00
`
`Identification code JPO reference No.
`
`ZAB
`
`FI
`H01M 10/54
`B03B 7/00
`B09B 5/00
`C22B 7/00
`
`(11) Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
`Official Gazette No. H 10 (1998) - 255861
`(43) [Publication date] 9.25.1998
`
` C
`ZABA
`
`Examination Request: Not yet made; Number of Claims: 9 OL (Total 21 pages)
`
`(21) Application No.:
`
`Patent Application No. H 9 (1997) - 59530
`
`(22) Application Date: 3.13.1997
`
`(71) Applicant: 000003078
`Toshiba Corporation
`72 Horikawa-cho, Saiwai Ward, Kawasaki City,
`Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
`(72) Inventor: Yoshiki Tomioka
`8 Shinsugita-cho, Isogo Ward, Yokohama City,
`Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan,
`Inside Toshiba Yokohama Office
`(72) Inventor: Tomiaki Furuya
`8 Shinsugita-cho, Isogo Ward, Yokohama City,
`Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan,
`Inside Toshiba Yokohama Office
`(72) Inventor: Kimihiro Tadauchi
`8 Shinsugita-cho, Isogo Ward, Yokohama City,
`Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan,
`Inside Toshiba Yokohama Office
`Patent Attorney Saiichi Suyama
`
`(74) Agent:
`
`Continued on the last page.
`
`(54) [Title of Invention] Method for processing waste
`
`(57) [Abstract]
`[Problem to be Solved] To provide a practical method for
`disposing of batteries that has high safety and low
`environmental impact.
`[Means for Solving the Problem] The method for
`processing waste comprises the steps of dismantling the
`collected secondary batteries, cleaning the
`aforementioned dismantled battery components, heating
`the cleaned battery components, separating and crushing
`the active material layers in the electrode components of
`the heated battery components, immersing the powdered
`active material layer in an acidic solution to elute the
`soluble components, separating the insoluble components
`from the acidic solution, and precipitating and recovering
`the metal components in the acidic solution.
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`[Scope of Patent Claims]
`[Claim 1] A method for processing waste, comprising a step of
`dismantling the collected battery, a step of cleaning the
`aforementioned dismantled parts, a step of heating the cleaned
`dismantled parts, a step of peeling and separating the active material
`layer of the electrode elements and crushing it, a step of soaking the
`powder of the active material layer in an acidic solution to elute
`soluble components, a step of separating the acidic solution from
`insoluble components, and a step of precipitating and recovering
`metal components from the acidic solution.
`[Claim 2] A method for processing waste, comprising a step of
`discharging the collected battery, a step of dismantling the
`aforementioned discharged battery, a step of cleaning the dismantled
`parts, a step of heating the cleaned dismantled parts, a step of peeling
`and separating the active material layer of the electrode elements and
`crushing it, a step of soaking the powder of the active material layer
`in an acidic solution to elute soluble components, a step of separating
`the acidic solution from insoluble components, and a step of
`precipitating and recovering metal components from the acidic
`solution.
`[Claim 3] The discharge processing step of the recovered battery as
`described in Claim 2, wherein the discharge processing step of the
`recovered battery is performed by connecting a conductor of the same
`material as the electrode collector to one of the battery electrode
`terminals via a conductive substance, and executing the discharge
`based on differences in ionization tendency.
`[Claim 4] A method for processing waste as described in Claim 2,
`wherein the recovered battery is dismantled and soaked in an organic
`solvent selected from alcohol and ketones.
`[Claim 5] A method for processing waste as described as described in
`Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the recovery of the battery is performed
`by passing a resin package enclosing the battery body through
`multiple rolls with differing rotational speeds to separate the resin
`package from the battery body.
`[Claim 6] A method for processing waste as described as described in
`Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein in the step of dismantling the recovered
`battery, the recovered battery is heated to vaporize and dissipate the
`internal liquid.
`[Claim 7] A method for processing waste as described as described in
`Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein in the step of dismantling the recovered
`battery, an opening is cut that is close to and approximately parallel
`to the sealing portion on the terminal protruding surface of the
`recovered battery, or an opening is cut at the corners where each
`surface intersects vertically.
`[Claim 8] A method for processing waste as described in Claim 1 or
`Claim 2, wherein he dismantled electrode part is heated under a
`reducing atmosphere at a temperature below 600°C.
`[Claim 9] A method for processing waste as described in Claim 1 or
`Claim 2, wherein the step of peeling and separating the active
`material layer of the electrode elements and crushing it is performed
`by placing it on a mesh of 10mm or smaller and applying vibration.
`
`[Detailed Explanation of the Invention]
`[0001]
`[Technical Field to Which the Invention Belongs] This invention
`relates to a method for processing waste, particularly concerning
`methods or recycling techniques for used lithium-ion batteries and
`
`nickel-metal hydride batteries.
`[0002]
`[Conventional Technology] In recent years, the demand for batteries
`for electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones has
`dramatically increased. In particular, lithium-ion secondary batteries
`possess excellent characteristics, including high capacity per unit
`weight and volume and high voltage, making them an essential
`secondary battery for miniaturized electronic power sources.
`Additionally, in California, where air pollution is becoming
`increasingly severe, a program to promote electric vehicle (EV) sales
`is expected to begin in 1998. Lithium-ion secondary batteries are
`being developed for use as these power sources, and a further surge
`in demand and consumption is anticipated. Consequently, the
`increase in battery consumption will inevitably lead to large-scale
`disposal (processing) of batteries, necessitating some form of waste
`treatment.
`[0003] However, since lithium-ion secondary batteries and nickel-
`metal hydride secondary batteries have only recently been
`commercialized, practical methods for processing waste are still in a
`trial-and-error stage.
`[0004]
`[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the aforementioned
`lithium-ion secondary batteries, while lithium is stable in ionic form,
`it becomes highly reactive when metalized. Therefore, for safety
`reasons, it is desirable to centrally recover and dispose of lithium-ion
`secondary batteries through appropriate methods. That is, because
`lithium, which exhibits high reactivity when in metallic form, is used
`in lithium-ion secondary batteries, there is a significant risk of
`ignition and explosion. Furthermore, if disposed batteries are directly
`melted or decomposed in an incinerator, the internal pressure may
`increase, leading to a higher risk of explosion. From a resource
`perspective, it is also necessary to recover metals such as cobalt and
`nickel from the electrode elements. On the other hand, since harmful
`substances may be produced as by-products from fluorine and
`phosphorus contained in the electrolyte, there is a significant risk of
`environmental pollution, necessitating more appropriate disposal
`treatment.
`[0005] Moreover, many small batteries, such as the aforementioned
`lithium-ion secondary batteries, may be used either as standalone
`units or in structures where multiple battery units are packed in a
`resin package. When the disposal item is a battery pack, it is crucial
`to first efficiently separate and remove the resin package so that the
`internal battery units can be extracted safely, enabling the recovery of
`useful resources. While one method to extract (separate) the battery
`units from the resin package involves manual disassembly at the
`junctions of the package, this approach is not suitable for large-scale
`disposal processing. Alternatively, mechanically crushing the
`disposal battery packs collectively, followed by wind separation and
`specific gravity sorting, could be considered as a mass processing
`method; however, there is also a risk of sparking due to residual
`voltage if the battery units are damaged in the process.
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`[0006] In addition, wiring boards are used in many fields, starting
`with high-performance electronic devices. These wiring boards are
`typically formed from materials such as valuable metals like copper
`foil and solder, inorganic substances like flame retardants, and resins,
`making waste disposal and recovery for reuse challenging.
`Particularly when harmful substances are present, it is crucial to
`recover and neutralize these harmful substances without dispersing
`them while also addressing the difficulty of recovering valuable
`metals. This is significant both from an environmental perspective
`and in terms of resource utilization.
`[0007] For the recycling of waste wiring boards, organic materials in
`the wiring board are removed through roasting, and gold from the
`copper foil and mounted components is recovered using a smelting
`furnace. This method can handle large quantities and is effective for
`recovering valuable metals; however, it poses problems from an
`environmental conservation and recycling standpoint. Specifically,
`there are concerns about the volatilization of harmful substances
`contained in the waste, such as lead compounds that have low
`melting points, and the generation of dioxins due to incomplete
`combustion. On the other hand, organic and inorganic materials are
`simply burned and discharged as slag, which has also been proposed
`for use as aggregate, but its value is lower compared to raw materials,
`limiting its applications.
`[0008] To effectively recycle composite material products containing
`metals, inorganic materials, and organic substances, it is preferable to
`separate and sort each material without reducing their inherent energy
`potential. From the viewpoint of minimizing environmental impact,
`non-combustion separation technologies have been proposed. For
`instance, as a preprocessing step for separation, methods involving
`crushing and grinding the waste wiring boards followed by separation
`through specific gravity, static electricity, or eddy current sorting
`have been documented (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent
`Application Publication No. H 7 (1995) - 251154, Japanese
`Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H 7 (1995) -
`100436, etc.).
`[0009] These separation techniques are effective in reducing
`environmental impact by suppressing the diffusion of harmful
`substances since they do not rely on combustion; however, because
`the separation depends solely on crushing, there are limitations to
`separation efficiency. Not only is the recovery rate of metals low, but
`a significant amount of metal contaminates the separated resins as
`impurities, which narrows down the possibilities for resin recycling
`and application.
`[0010] This invention addresses the aforementioned circumstances
`and aims to provide a practical method for processing waste batteries
`that is safe and has low environmental impact.
`[0011]
`[Means for Solving the Problems] The invention of Claim 1
`comprises a step of dismantling the collected batteries, a step of
`cleaning the dismantled parts, a step of heating the cleaned
`dismantled parts, a step of peeling and separating the active material
`layer of the electrode elements from the heated dismantled parts and
`crushing them, a step of immersing the powdered active material
`layer in an acidic solution to elute the acid-soluble components, a
`step of separating undissolved components from the acidic solution,
`and a step of precipitating and recovering metal components from the
`acidic solution.
`[0012] Here, the collected batteries include, for example, individual
`
`lithium-ion secondary batteries, lead-acid secondary batteries, battery
`packs (packaged batteries) containing circuit substrates, etc.
`Furthermore, “dismantling” means cutting the outer casing of the
`individual battery or the battery pack to extract the electrode element
`components such as the positive electrode, negative electrode, and
`separator, and if necessary, cutting them into strip-like pieces. The
`separation of the electrode element components may involve
`immersing them in a liquid (water, solvent, acidic, or alkaline liquid)
`after opening the casing of the battery, allowing them to separate by
`buoyancy, while concentrating and recovering electrolyte
`components like lithium hexafluorophosphate, ethylene carbonate,
`and dimethyl carbonate from the liquid used for immersion, and
`employing magnets to recover metal components floating in the
`aforesaid liquid.
`[0013] Furthermore, the cleaning of the dismantled items can be
`performed using alcohols such as methyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol,
`ketones, or alcohol-water solutions. In this case, subsequent drying
`becomes easier, and peeling later is also facilitated. Additionally, if
`nitric acid is used as the cleaning solution, it allows for the separation
`of the substrate from the positive electrode and the binder, thereby
`eliminating the need for subsequent heating. On the other hand, when
`an alkali (for example, sodium hydroxide) is used as the cleaning
`solution, only the aluminum substrate of the positive electrode
`dissolves, making peeling unnecessary, and thus heating treatment
`can also be omitted.
`[0014] In addition, following this cleaning process, to achieve the
`separation (decomposition) of the binder from the electrode elements
`and to remove any remaining solvents or binder components, a heat
`treatment is performed at a temperature of approximately 40 to
`400°C. However, prior to this heat treatment, it is preferable to
`conduct a vacuum drying process to remove the electrolyte; this
`enhances the efficiency of subsequent processing.
`[0015] Moreover, in this heat treatment, the temperature should be
`higher than that during electrode manufacturing (generally between
`100 to 200°C), but below the temperature at which the fluorine in the
`binder of the electrode elements (PVdF: 400°C, fluorinated rubber:
`300°C) volatilizes. By doing so, only the organic binder components
`are vaporized, suppressing the generation of harmful substances,
`while the difference in thermal expansion makes it easier to separate
`the electrode support and the active material layer.
`[0016] Additionally, the peeling and separation of the active material
`layer from the heat-treated dismantled electrode elements can be
`preferably promoted by immersing the electrode elements in water
`and applying external forces, such as ultrasonic vibrations or blowing
`bubbles. The separation may also involve the decomposition and
`processing of wiring substrates that constitute part of the battery
`package. In such cases, it is desirable to structure the insulating
`substrate as a laminated structure with materials that impose different
`stress strains, making it easier to yield and cause internal failure
`under certain stress anomalies.
`[0017] The acidic solution used to elute the acid-soluble components
`from the active material layer powder is intended to dissolve or
`ionize elements such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel within the
`
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`electrode elements. Generally, examples include hydrochloric acid
`solutions of 0.1 to 60% or nitric acid solutions of 0.1 to 60%. The
`separated undissolved components (organic components) are washed
`with water to remove the acid and collected, while the metal
`components in the aforementioned acidic solution are either separated
`and recovered by using ion exchange resins to adsorb (precipitate) the
`metals or precipitated and then separated and recovered.
`[0018] The invention of Claim 2 is a method for processing waste
`that includes the steps of discharging the recovered battery,
`dismantling the aforementioned discharged battery, cleaning the
`aforementioned dismantled items, heat treating the aforementioned
`cleaned dismantled items, peeling and separating the active material
`layer of the electrode element of the aforementioned heat-treated
`dismantled items and grinding it, immersing the powder of the
`aforementioned active material layer in an acidic solution to elute
`acid-soluble components, separating the aforementioned acidic
`solution from insoluble components, and precipitating and recovering
`the metal components in the aforementioned acidic solution. The
`invention of Claim 3 is an improvement of the method for processing
`waste described in Claim 2, wherein the discharge process of the
`recovered battery involves connecting a conductor made of the same
`material as the electrode current collector to one of the battery
`electrode terminals via a conductive material, performing discharge
`based on differences in ionization tendency. This invention adds a
`step of performing a discharge treatment in advance to safely process
`the recovered battery for disposal. In other words, if a secondary
`battery in a charged state is dismantled directly, it could cause a short
`circuit and potentially ignite organic materials inside the battery;
`therefore, it is desirable to perform a discharge treatment beforehand.
`Possible means for this discharge treatment include the following:
`
`discharge treatment is performed during the transport process of the
`recovered battery or while the recovered battery is being stored.
`
`battery due to overcharging and the safety device has activated,
`cutting off the positive electrode lead, the external part of the battery
`can be cooled to about 0°C or compressed externally using a pump to
`liquefy the carbon dioxide gas inside the battery and restore the
`safety device.
`
`[0019] ① For example, if carbon dioxide gas is generated inside the
`[0020] ② Using a dedicated battery recovery box equipped with
`devices capable of executing the aforementioned method ①, the
`[0021] ③ Immersing the recovered battery in an electrolyte similar
`[0022] ④ If the recovered battery is in an overcharged state or an
`
`to that in its electrode elements or a non-aqueous solvent to promote
`natural discharge of the battery. During this immersion, placing
`electrodes in the immersed electrolyte and connecting a resistor
`further promotes the discharge.
`
`excessively discharged state, a conductor made of the same material
`as the electrode current collector is connected to one of the battery
`electrode terminals via a conductive material, and discharge occurs
`based on differences in ionization tendency. Here, the electrode
`current collector is preferably aluminum for the positive side and
`copper for the negative side, especially when there is a significant
`difference in ionization tendency.
`[0023] For example, when observing the behavior of the negative
`electrode side connected to a metal immersed in another electrolyte
`under conditions where the positive and negative electrodes are not
`
`short-circuited or the battery is not operating, we can see the
`following phenomena when lithium metal is either deposited on the
`negative side or not. In the state where lithium metal has deposited on
`the negative side (overcharged), metal present as ions in the
`electrolyte elutes from the metal immersed in the electrolyte, causing
`its weight to increase. Under constant voltage, the flowing electric
`current gradually decreases, and after some time, the deposition of
`the aforementioned metal almost stops, resulting in a sharp drop in
`the electric current value. This phenomenon indicates that, when
`comparing the standard electrode potentials of metals, the negative
`side of the secondary battery operates as one half-cell while the piece
`of metal immersed in the electrolyte acts as another half-cell, thus
`forming a new battery system.
`In the case of an overcharged lithium-ion secondary battery, when
`lithium uniformly adheres around the copper foil current collector on
`the negative side, the standard electrode potential becomes lower than
`that of pure copper. As a result, the copper side connected to the
`metal immersed in the external electrolyte becomes the positive
`electrode, allowing electric current to flow. Moreover, the rapid
`change in electric current occurs because the lithium adhering to the
`negative side's copper foil current collector detaches, leading to
`resistance in electric current being dominated by the inherent
`resistance of copper. Therefore, with a certain voltage, the resistance
`value increases compared to when lithium was attached.
`[0024] On the other hand, in the case of a secondary battery in an
`excessively discharged state, when forced to maintain a constant
`voltage under conditions similar to the aforementioned overcharge
`scenario, the metal immersed in the external electrolyte ionizes and
`acts as a negative electrode, making it easy to confirm the excessively
`discharged state.
`[0025] The invention of Claim 4 is characterized by the method for
`processing waste described in Claim 2, wherein the recovered battery
`is dismantled and impregnated with organic solvents such as alcohols
`or ketones. The invention of Claim 5 stipulates that, in the method for
`processing waste described in Claim 1 or Claim 2, the recovered
`battery is one where the resin package enclosing the battery body is
`separated from the battery body by passing it through multiple rolls
`with differing rotational speeds.
`[0026] This invention is characterized by how the recovered battery
`is separated from the resin package. Specifically, by passing a battery
`pack configured to enclose multiple batteries within a resin package
`through several rolls that have different rotational speeds, shear
`forces and twisting actions are simultaneously applied by the rotating
`rollers to break and peel off the resin package, thereby separating the
`enclosed battery body. The gap between the rolls must be set to be
`less than the overall thickness of the battery pack to ensure that
`sufficient force is transmitted to the resin package. At the same time,
`it must be set to be greater than the thickness of the battery body to
`avoid damaging it. Therefore, when applying this separation means, it
`is preferable to sort the battery packs by shape in advance. Moreover,
`if the batteries to be processed are mixed types with varying
`thicknesses and shapes, it is desirable to design the device
`configuration in advance to accommodate batteries of different
`thicknesses.
`[0027] For example, one can establish multiple pairs of rolls with
`
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`varying gaps and utilize a sorting device located before the roll
`mechanism to either distribute the batteries to the processing rolls or
`direct them to a section where the gap between the rolls is gradually
`widened from one end to the other. The sorting method is not
`particularly limited as long as it sorts the recovered batteries by
`thickness; for instance, mechanical sorting can use multiple slits with
`varying widths, electromagnetic properties such as eddy current or
`electromagnetic induction can be applied for sorting, and shape
`recognition technology can use sensors like infrared or image
`processing methods. Commonly known methods can be employed.
`[0028] The introduction of waste batteries into the roll apparatus is
`not particularly restricted as long as it is directed according to the
`settings of the roll gap. Generally, it is preferable to install a
`rectifying plate at the inlet so that the standardized direction by
`thickness does not get interchanged. In this case, to make it difficult
`for the introduction direction to interchange, it is most preferable that
`the batteries introduced into the roll gap match the thinnest direction
`of the battery thickness. Furthermore, it is preferable that this thinnest
`thickness direction is oriented perpendicular to the horizontal plane
`during introduction. Therefore, if there is a need to detect thickness, it
`is advisable to provide a means to adjust the most slender thickness
`direction to be perpendicular to the horizontal plane in front of the
`thickness detection means. This directional adjustment can be
`achieved, for example, by passing it over a vibrating flat plate.
`[0029] Furthermore, the shear force and twisting action applied
`between the rolls during crushing and separation can be made even
`more powerful by using rolls with uneven surfaces. However, in
`order to avoid damaging the battery body, these uneven features
`should be set to a thickness below that of the resin forming the
`package. The shape of the uneven surface is not particularly restricted
`as long as it can reliably transmit the force of the roll, but a shape
`with moderately sharp angles is preferred. In other words, if the
`unevenness is too gentle, force transmission will be insufficient and
`ineffective. Conversely, if the unevenness is excessively sharp, there
`is a risk that the stripped package resin may adhere to the uneven
`surface due to temperature conditions or the viscoelastic properties of
`the resin forming the package, preventing it from separating from the
`roll. Therefore, it is preferable to set the angle of the uneven surface
`according to the characteristics at the processing temperature
`conditions of the resin package (case) of the battery pack being
`processed.
`[0030] In addition, the roll apparatus that applies the necessary shear
`force and twisting action to the aforementioned resin package is a so-
`called roll-type kneading device or roll-type crusher. The shear force
`is applied by providing a rotational speed difference between two
`rolls through which the battery pack passes. Here, the speed ratio
`between the low-speed roll and the high-speed roll is generally in the
`range of 1:2 to 1:20, but preferably in the range of 1:3 to 1:8.
`Moreover, since the force acting on the battery pack (resin battery
`package) is fundamentally determined by the speed ratio, the
`rotational speeds themselves can be set arbitrarily considering
`
`processing efficiency. However, if the rotational speed is excessively
`high, the deformation applied to the battery body increases, leading to
`the risk of damage. Thus, it is generally preferable to set the low-
`speed roll in the range of 20 to 500 rpm. Furthermore, when
`separating the resin package while breaking it away from the battery
`body, preheating the resin package to at least its softening point
`allows for the resin package to separate without applying deformation
`stress to the battery body. The heating method is not particularly
`restricted, and known methods such as electric heaters or infrared
`heaters can be used. It is effective to integrate or attach heating
`elements within the rolls themselves so that only the parts in contact
`with the rolls can be softened through direct heat conduction.
`[0031] In addition, since the resin forming the package may adhere to
`the roll surface, it may be beneficial to attach a scraping mechanism,
`such as a fixed scraper or a movable rotating brush, or apply a release
`agent to the roll surface to prevent adhesion due to softening or
`melting of the resin.
`[0032] Furthermore, the resin package that has been separated
`through the roll step and the battery body are each separated and
`recovered through the separation step. Here, various known methods
`can be used as separation means. Examples include specific gravity
`separation utilizing differences in density, air separation, as well as
`magnetic separation, eddy current separation, and electromagnetic
`induction-based sorting, which apply various electromagnetic
`properties.
`[0033] The function of the invention described in Claim 5 is to enable
`processing of mixed waste batteries of multiple types by
`incorporating a step for selecting waste batteries with different
`thickness shapes prior to roll processing. By softening during the
`heating step, the package resin can easily be separated through the
`roll step, and through the separation step, the battery body and
`package resin can be sorted and recovered.
`[0034] The invention of Claim 6 relates to the method for processing
`waste described in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein in the dismantling
`step of the recovered batteries, the recovered batteries are heated,
`causing the liquid contained within the battery to vaporize and
`dissipate.
`[0035] The invention of Claim 7 pertains to the method for
`processing waste as described in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein in the
`dismantling step of the recovered batteries, a cutting opening is made
`so as to be nearly parallel to the sealing part close to the terminal
`protruding surface of the recovered battery, or a cutting opening is
`made at the corners where each face intersects vertically.
`[0036] These inventions facilitate the removal of flammable organic
`solvents used in the electrolyte solution that forms a part of the
`electrode element, such as ethylene carbonate, methyl ethyl
`carbonate, and γ-butyrolactone, thus making subsequent processing
`easier. The means for vaporizing and dissipating the internal liquid
`includes (a) releasing the safety valve equipped in the battery due to
`the increase in pressure within the battery caused by vaporization, (b)
`heating and vaporizing after releasing the safety valve for dissipation,
`
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`and (c) cutting or opening the external battery can, for example, into
`rings to extract the electrode element, followed by heating and
`vaporizing for dissipation if necessary. It is preferable to recover
`these dissipated organic solvents by some means rather than releasing
`them directly into the atmosphere.
`[0037] In these inventions, it is preferable to conduct a pre-treatment,
`such as vacuum suction drying using oil rotary pumps with gas
`collection mechanisms, piston pumps, multi-stage steam ejectors,
`Roots pumps, etc., before vaporizing and dissipating the liquid inside
`the battery. Here, the liquid within the battery may include materials
`such as methyl ethyl carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl
`carbonate, and ethylene carbonate.
`[0038] Moreover, the cutting openings of the recovered batteries in
`the invention of Claim 7 can either be made nearly parallel to the
`sealing part close to the terminal protruding surface (in the form of
`ring cuts) or at the cutting openings of corners where each face
`intersects vertically. In the case of rectangular batteries, the cutting
`openings at the corners may involve the joint corners between
`adjacent side walls or the joint corners between the top/bottom
`surfaces and the side walls. In addition, for cylindrical batteries, they
`may include joint corners between the top/bottom surfaces and the
`side walls or incisions along the side wall extending between the top
`and bottom surfaces.
`[0039] The invention of Claim 8 pertains to the method for
`processing waste as described in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized
`by heating the recovered and dismantled electrode element under a
`reducing atmosphere at a temperature below 600°C.
`[0040] In this invention, the heating temperature of the electrode
`element part extracted through dismantling is generally sufficient to
`be below approximately 300°C; however, it can also be set to a high
`temperature limit of about 500°C. At this time, washing the extracted
`electrode element part with water or a solvent can prevent the
`generation of harmful substances such as hydrofluoric acid and
`aniline. On the other hand, if the heating temperature is set above
`approximately 300°C, it may cause decomposition of resin binders
`within the electrode element part, making peeling and separation
`more likely, but the generation of hydrofluoric acid can lead to
`corrosion and degradation of the heating furnace and surrounding
`areas. Therefore, it is advisable to use a corrosion-resistant furnace
`equipped with an acidic gas treatment device. In either case, it is
`desirable to circulate inert gases, such as nitrogen gas, to control the
`oxidation state of the organic binder by volatilizing and exhausting it.
`[0041] The invention of Claim 9 relates to the method for processing
`waste as described in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the step of peeling
`and separati