Method, apparatus, and system for lithium ion battery recycling

A battery processing system comprising:

• a sorter configured to sort a mixed chemistry of batteries comprising lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries and one or more of alkaline, nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) and nickel cadmium (Ni—Cd) batteries, such that the Li-ion batteries are separated from the one or more of alkaline, Ni-MH and Ni—Cd batteries into bins;
• a packaging removal device configured to remove packaging from the Li-ion batteries to expose Li-ion cells of the Li-ion batteries;
• a puncturing device configured to puncture the Li-ion cells before discharging, wherein the puncturing allows electrolyte in the punctured Li-ion cells to dry out to increase a speed of electrolyte evaporation and decrease a Li-ion processing time of the battery processing;
• a conveyor configured to deposit the punctured Li-ion cells in water for fire or fume mitigation;
• a kiln or salt bath configured to discharge the punctured Li-ion cells;
• a cooling retort configured to cool the discharged and punctured Li-ion cells;
• a shredder configured to shred the cooled, discharged, and punctured Li-ion cells into pieces;
• a magnetic separator configured to remove iron (Fe) from the shredded pieces;
• and
• a pulverizer configured to pulverize remaining shredded pieces of the pieces into a mixed powder including Li and at least one powder selected from the group consisting of cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and carbon (C).