(Spent) Lithium Ion Battery Solids
Product Name: (Spent) Lithium Ion Battery Solids
INMETCO
Synonym: (Spent) Cobalt Lithium Ion Battery Solids
Material Hazardous Ingredients
This material results from the thermal oxidation of crushed lithium recycled batteries.
Estimated
PEL1-mg/m3 TLV1-mg/m3
Ingredients C.A.S. No.
Composition
Safety 1.5+
Nickel (Ni) 0.5-1.5 7440-02-0 1
+
Nickel Oxide (NiO) 0.1-0.5 1313-99-1 1 0.2
1+
Copper (Cu) 10-20 7440-50-8 1 as Cu
Data 0.2 as fume
1+
Copper Oxide (CuO) 5-10 1317-38-0 1 as Cu
0.1 as fume
Sheet Cobalt (Co) 20-25 7440-48-4 0.02 0.02
Cobalt Oxide (Co3O4) 2-10 1307-96-6 0.1 as Co 0.1 as Co
Alumina (Al2O3) 8-10 1344-28-1 10 Total/5 Resp. 10 Total/5 Resp.
Lithium Carbonate (Li2CO3) 12-15 ? n.av. n.av.
Lithium Fluoride (LiF) 1-2 7789-24-4 n.av. n.av.
Lithium Phosphate (Li3PO4) 1-2 ? n.av. n.av.
Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF) 1-2 24937-79-9 n.av. n.av
+
As inhalable fraction.
Physical and Chemical Data
Ingredient Mol. Wt. Specific Gravity m.p.掳C b.p.掳C Sol. In H20G/100ml
Ni 58.71 8.9 1453 2732 0
NiO 74.71 6.67 1990 n.av. 0
Cu 63.54 8.9 1083 2595 0
CuO 143.08 6.4 2419 n.av. 0
Co 58.93 8.9 1495 2900 0
Co3O4 165.86 5.18 895 n.av. insol.
Al2O3 101.96 ~3.9 ~2015 ~2980 0
Li2CO3 73.89 2.1 723 dec.1310 insol. 1.3(20掳C)
Updated: 01/08
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LiF 25.9 n.av. n.a. n.a. n.av.
Li3PO4 115.7 n.av. n.a. n.a. n.av.
PVDF n.a. 1.7-2 134-178 n.a. n.av.
Physical Hazards
The material may be dusty and precautions should be taken to reduce the level of dust in the
workplace by careful handling and by appropriate ventilation.
INMETCO
Health Hazards
Material
As supplied, this complex mixture has no identifiable toxicological properties. The following
illustrates the health hazards of individual ingredients in pure form.
Nickel
Safety LD50 ORAL RAT >9000 mg/kg
Inhalation: The National Toxicology Program has listed nickel as
reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen based on the
Data
production of injection site tumors. The International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC) found there was inadequate
evidence that metallic nickel is carcinogenic to humans but
since there was sufficient evidence that it is carcinogenic to
animals, IARC concluded that metallic nickel is possibly
Sheet carcinogenic to humans. In 1997, the ACGIH categorized
elemental nickel as: A5 "Not Suspected as a Human
Carcinogen". Epidemiological studies of workers exposed to
nickel powder and to dust and fume generated in the
production of nickel alloys and of stainless steel have not
indicated the presence of a significant respiratory cancer
hazard.
Evidence for the association of nickel compound exposures
and cancer risk comes mainly from workers in now obsolete
nickel refining operations where very high concentrations of
airborne nickel, mostly present as oxidic or sub-sulphidic
species at up to 100mg/m3 or more, were associated with
excess nasal and lung cancers.
The inhalation of nickel powder has not resulted in an
increased incidence of malignant lung tumors in rodents.
Repeated intratracheal instillation of nickel powder produced
an increased incidence of malignant lung tumors in rats.
Repeated intratracheal instillation of nickel powder did not
produce an increased incidence of malignant lung tumors in
hamsters when administered at the maximum tolerated dose.
Single intratracheal instillations of nickel powder in hamsters at
doses near the LD50 produced an increased incidence of
fibrosarcomas, mesotheliomas and rhabdomyosarcomas.
Inhalation of nickel powder at concentrations 15 times the TLV
irritated the respiratory tract in rodents.
Inhalation of nickel may induce asthma. This effect is rare; it
has been reported in welders where exposures to nickel are
often mixed with other chemical substances. Persons with a
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Updated: 01/08
known history of nickel sensitive asthma should avoid such
contact.
Skin Contact: Prolonged and intimate contact with metallic nickel may cause
irritation to the skin and nickel sensitivity, which may result in
allergic skin rashes.
One case has been reported of asthma induced by external
exposure to a nickel-containing skin clip and by skin contact
with nickel.
INMETCO
Wounds: Nickel metal powder has caused tumors at the site of injection
in rodents. However, studies do not suggest a significant risk
Material for humans from nickel-containing prostheses.
Ingestion: The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) concluded there is no evidence that nickel and its
inorganic compounds are carcinogenic when ingested. The
Safety U.S. Food and Drug Administration has affirmed that nickel is
generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a direct human food
ingredient.
Data Preexisting Conditions: Prolonged and intimate skin contact can cause an allergic skin
rash in previously sensitized individuals.
Reproductive Toxicity: Animal experiments indicate that soluble nickel ingestion
causes adverse effects on fetal development at a threshold
Sheet oral exposure of 2.2 mg/ Ni/kg/day by pregnant rats. Data are
insufficient to determine if this effect occurs in humans and no
regulatory agency has classified soluble forms of nickel as
reproductive risks for humans.
Nickel Oxide
LD50 ORAL RAT > 5000 gm/kg
Inhalation: Evidence for the association of nickel compound exposures
and cancer risk comes mainly from workers in now obsolete
nickel refining operations. The studies of nickel workers
suggest that respiratory cancer risks are primarily related to
exposure to relatively insoluble forms of nickel notably
sulphidic and oxidic nickel at concentrations greater than
10mg/m3. Toxic respiratory effects in animals may be caused
by reduced particle clearance capacity.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (ref.
4) in 1990 and the U.S. Tenth Report on Carcinogens (ref. 5) in
2002 concluded there was sufficient evidence that nickel
compounds are carcinogenic to humans. The Report of the
International Committee on Nickel Carcinogenesis in Man
reported that workers who have been primarily exposed to
nickel oxide showed some evidence of increased lung cancer.
The European Union Commission in 1991 classified nickel
oxide and work involving exposure to dusts; fumes and sprays
produced during the roasting and electrorefining of nickel-
copper mattes as carcinogenic processes.
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Updated: 01/08
ACGIH has re-evaluated the data regarding the carcinogenicity
of nickel and nickel compounds and has classified nickel oxide
as a confirmed human carcinogen, Class A1.
There is some evidence that the inhalation of nickel oxide has
resulted in an increased incidence of malignant lung tumors in
rats. Inhalation of nickel oxide at concentrations 50 times the
TLV, produced pneumoconiosis in hamsters. Repeated
intratracheal instillation of nickel oxide produced an increased
incidence of malignant lung tumors in rats.
INMETCO
Wounds: Nickel oxide has caused tumors at the site of injection in
rodents.
Material Ingestion: The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) concluded there is no evidence that nickel and its
inorganic compounds are carcinogenic when ingested. The
U.S. Food and Drug Administration has affirmed that nickel is
Safety generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a direct human food
ingredient.
Preexisting Conditions: Prolonged and intimate skin contact can cause an allergic skin
Data rash in previously sensitized individuals.
Reproductive Toxicity: There is no evidence of mutagenesis. Animal experiments
indicate that soluble nickel ingestion causes adverse effects on
fetal development at a threshold oral exposure of 2.2
Sheet mg/Ni/kg/day by pregnant rats. Data are insufficient to
determine if this effect occurs in humans and no regulatory
agency has classified soluble forms of nickel as reproductive
risks for humans.
Copper Oxide
Inhalation: Copper fume, dusts and mists from copper ore smelting and
related metallurgical operations have been associated with
irritation of the respiratory tract and metal fume fever.
Symptoms of metal fume fever include chills, fever and
sweating.
Eye Contact: Copper oxides in the eye cause immediate irritation and
conjunctival inflammation, which will subside without permanent
damage soon after the eyeball is cleansed by irrigation.
Preexisting
Conditions: Wilson's disease can occur in certain individuals with a rare,
inherited metabolic disorder characterized by retention of
excessive amounts of copper in the liver, brain, kidneys and
corneas. These deposits eventually lead to tissue necrosis and
fibrosis, causing a variety of clinical effects, especially liver (i.e.
hepatic) disease and neurologic changes. Wilson's disease is
progressive and, if untreated, leads to fatal liver (i.e. hepatic)
failure.
Cobalt
LD50 ORAL RAT: 6171 mg/kg
Inhalation: Asthmatic symptoms and pulmonary fibrosis occurring in the
tungsten carbide industry may be related to the inhalation of
metallic cobalt dust. Evidence of polycythemia (an increase in
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Updated: 01/08
the total red cell mass of the blood in the body) and altered
thyroid, kidney and liver function has also been found.
Excessive doses of metallic cobalt have produced cardiac
changes in miniature swine.
Skin Contact: Repeated contact with metallic cobalt can cause cobalt
sensitivity and allergic skin rashes.
Wounds: Cobalt powders have caused tumours at the site of injection in
rodents. However, studies of cobalt containing prostheses do
INMETCO not suggest a significant risk for humans.
Pre-existing
Material Conditions: Sensitized individuals may experience an allergic skin rash or
asthma.
Cobalt Oxide
Safety Oral LD50 >5000 mg/kg
Inhalation: Some workers engaged long-term in the production of cobalt
oxides showed symptoms of chronic bronchitis. Inhalation
Data experiments show that cobalt oxide accumulated in the lymph
nodes of dogs suggesting it is tissue insoluble.
Alumina
Inhalation: There exist reports of pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema of
Sheet alumina abrasive workers exposed to alumina and silica, but
improved environmental control has dramatically reduced the
incidence of these health problems.
Lithium and lithium compounds
Inhalation: Lithium metal can exist only when protected from air and
moisture under mineral oil or an inert atmosphere (e.g. argon).
Lithium metal reacts rapidly with oxygen in air and with moisture
to form lithium monoxide, lithium hydroxide and lithium
carbonate. These compounds are strongly basic and corrosive.
Inhalation of these lithium compounds can cause severe
irritation and corrosive tissue injury. Effects can include sore
throat, coughing, shortness of breath and laboured breathing.
Severe exposures could cause serious lung injury (edema) and
respiratory arrest, leading to death.
Skin Contact: Lithium or Lithium reaction products can burn skin (corrosive).
Eye Contact: Lithium-containing particles or dust can burn eyes (corrosive).
Lithium Fluoride
The lethal dosage of soluble fluorides for humans is estimated to be 32-65 mg F/kg body
weight. As LiF is sparingly soluble in water, its toxicity will be less than soluble fluorides.
Reported signs of acute systemic poisoning are a general malaise, weakness and pallor with
cardiopulmonary symptoms such as tachycardia, hypotension and pulmonary edema. The
central nervous system can be affected leading to depression, respiratory paralysis and
seizures.
Chronic exposure to fluorides can lead to absorbed fluoride being deposited in the skeletal
system resulting in skeletal fluorosis, which is characterized by histological changes in bone.
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Updated: 01/08
Precautions for Safe Storage, Handling and Use
If user operations generate dust, fume or mist, use ventilation to keep exposure to airborne
contaminants below their exposure limits. If ventilation alone cannot so control exposure, use
NIOSH-approved respirators selected according to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134.
Avoid repeated skin contact. Wear suitable gloves. Wash skin thoroughly after handling. Launder
INMETCO clothing and gloves as needed.
Do not store near acids. Some metals can react with acids to liberate hydrogen gas which can
Material form explosive mixtures in air.
Under special conditions nickel can react with carbon monoxide in reducing atmospheres to
form nickel carbonyl, Ni(CO)4, a toxic gas. Polyvinylidene fluoride has excellent resistance to
Safety degradation up to 200掳C, but decomposes to form HF (gas) at >400掳C.
Spill, Leak and Disposal Procedure
Data Collect spills by wet sweeping or by vacuuming with the vacuum exhaust passing through a high
efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter if the exhaust is discharged into the workplace.
Should waste disposal be deemed necessary, follow EPA and local regulations.
Sheet Emergency and First Aid Procedures
If conditions of use of this material are known to form nickel tetracarbonyl and if exposure is
suspected, seek medical attention immediately. For skin rashes, seek medical attention.
Cleanse wounds thoroughly to remove any particles.
SARA Section 313 Supplier Notification
This product contains the following chemical(s) subject to the reporting requirements of Section
313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 and of 40 CFR 372:
Nickel
Nickel Oxide
Copper
Copper Oxide
Cobalt
Cobalt Oxide
Refer to the Hazardous Ingredients section of this MSDS for the appropriate CAS numbers and
percent by weight.
THE INTERNATIONAL METALS RECLAMATION COMPANY, INC.
One Inmetco Drive
Ellwood City, PA 16117
(724) 758-5515
Chemtrec 24 hr Emergency No.: 1-800-424-9300
Note:
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Updated: 01/08
Vale Inco believes that the information in this Material Safety Data Sheet is accurate. However, Vale Inco makes
no express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of such information and expressly disclaims any liability
resulting from reliance on such information.
Footnotes:
庐 Trademark of the Inco family of companies.
1 OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit
2 Threshold Limit Value of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
3 Describes possible health hazards of the product supplied. If user operations change it to other chemical forms,
whether as end products, intermediates or fugitive emissions, the possible health hazards of such forms must
be determined by the user.
INMETCO
Material
Safety
Data
Sheet
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