The ITAD process includes battery removal, which isn’t always an easy task. Electronics are made with lithium-ion batteries, which can cause chemical fires if damaged, making battery removal critical to prevent damage during disposition. However, some are more difficult to detect and can enter the disposition stream unnoticed, increasing the risk of damage and a potential battery fire. According to emerging equipment supplier Battery Detection Solutions, the solution may be X-ray technology.
The Critical Nature of Battery Removal
Lithium-ion batteries are classified as dangerous due to being extremely flammable and sensitive to high temperatures. LIB fires spark when a thermal runaway occurs, which can be triggered by extreme heat that causes battery swelling or battery damage. A thermal runaway occurs when self-discharge is uncontrolled and a cell is damaged. A damaged cell can allow impurities to penetrate, leading to a significant electrical shortage. During a thermal runaway, the heat from a failed cell can spread to the next one, making it also thermally unstable. Many factors can lead to impurities penetrating the cell, such as manufacturing defects, design flaws, and improper usage. For this reason, they are always removed during the disposition process but can sometimes be difficult to identify.
Battery Detection with X-Ray Tech
Battery Detection Solutions, an equipment dealer headquartered in Arizona, uses an advanced type of X-ray imaging to locate batteries in recycling facilities and also aims to capture data on the composition of commodities in the stream. Founder and CEO Rich Cisek explained the multi-spectral imaging, stating, “You’re not just taking one X-ray picture, you’re taking, like, eight at once across the energy spectrum. The ability to do that in an automated way is what allows this whole thing to work.” Cisek’s goal was to go beyond a traditional X-ray machine by having the equipment also indicate what the subject item is made of.
According to Cisek, the equipment could be placed on top of the infeed conveyor at the beginning of the sorting process in MRFs, aiming down at the materials moving past. “The better opportunity is, as soon as the truck is unloaded, to put the material through the X-ray, so that you know there are no latent batteries waiting in your pile to burn up,” he said.
The company is also experimenting with truck-mounted X-ray technology for curbside inspection as they are being picked up. Cisek says this would be “a little trickier,” but the company is exploring those possibilities. “The only way to eliminate the chance of a fire is to make sure the batteries can’t get in” a facility in the first place, Cisek said. “Once you start sorting things, you risk damaging a battery.”
Safe Battery Disposition with ITAD
IT asset disposition companies like HOBI collect used electronics and ensure their safe and proper disposal. Partnering with an ITAD provider ensures professional battery removal with strict safety measures. Electronics recycling not only prevents harmful chemicals from entering the atmosphere but also reduces the risk of fires in landfills.
HOBI International, Inc. is an R2v3, RIOS, and IS0 14001 certified IT asset management and disposition enterprise with more than 30 years of experience in the waste disposal industry. Our trained professionals undergo training and take special precautions when handling lithium-ion batteries during battery removal. HOBI prioritizes the safety of employees with fire safety practices and special tools during the disposition process.
For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.