Development of Low-Cost Salts for Lithium-Ion, Rechargeable Batteries

65735 There are many sources of coated (metallized and painted plastics) yet recyclable plastics from post-industrial processes that are available in large, pre-sorted quantities. Furthermore, advances in separation technologies continue to make available more sources of these potentially recyclable materials from post-consumer waste streams. However, the inability to remove coating materials from plastics in an environmentally friendly and cost effective manner results in the landfill of hundreds of millions of pounds of valuable polymer substrate materials each year. Accordingly, trillions of Btus of energy are lost that could otherwise be conserved if appropriate techniques were developed for recovery and recycle. This project will develop processing methodologies to separate coated plastics parts out of existing commercial waste-streams and remove the coatings from the plastic substrate materials in order to support the recovery and recycle of valuable polymer substrate materials. Phase I will develop a coating removal process of significance to the automotive industry along of with a separation technology to support the recycling effort. Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by awardee: The plastic recycling process should lead to the conservation of trillions of Btu¿s of energy and divert hundreds of millions of pounds of material from landfill each year. Targeted market applications include the automotive and information technology sector.