Korea Zinc has patented a method for recovering valuable metals from spent secondary batteries. The process involves pre-processing, melting with a chlorinating agent, and recovering metals, including lithium in dust form. It also includes analyzing and adjusting the composition of generated slag to specific percentages of CaO, SiO2, and Al2O3. GlobalData’s report on Korea Zinc gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
According to GlobalData’s company profile on Korea Zinc, Solvent extraction processes was a key innovation area identified from patents. Korea Zinc's grant share as of July 2024 was 50%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Method for recovering metals from spent secondary batteries
The patent US12046727B2 outlines a method for recovering valuable metals from spent secondary batteries through a multi-step process. Initially, the method involves a pre-processing phase that includes discharging, disassembling, shredding, and drying the spent batteries. Following this, the pre-processed material undergoes a melting process where it is heated to temperatures of 1500 degrees Celsius or higher, and a chlorinating agent—such as CaCl2 or CuCl2—is added to facilitate the recovery of metals. The resulting molten solution allows for the extraction of lithium, which is recovered in the form of lithium dust, specifically as LiCl. Additionally, the melting process generates a slag composed of CaO, SiO2, and Al2O3, with specific percentage ranges for each component.
The method further includes a slag composition analysis to ensure the generated slag meets the desired composition of 21-28% CaO, 55-63% SiO2, and 12-17% Al2O3. Based on the analysis results, adjustments can be made to the input amount of flux to achieve the optimal slag composition. The patent also emphasizes the importance of analyzing the composition of the pre-processed battery to inform the flux input, ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the metal recovery process. Overall, this method presents a systematic approach to recycling valuable metals from spent batteries, contributing to resource recovery and sustainability in battery management.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Korea Zinc, buy the report here.
Data Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
