Dramatic Moment Explosion Rocks Lithium Battery Plant

Dramatic video shows the moment an explosion rocked a large battery-recycling plant in Fredericktown, Missouri, after a fire erupted on Wednesday, October 30.
Credit: Jacob Armes via Storyful

This video has been uploaded for use by Storyful's subscription clients with the permission of the content owner.

[ericsemanko]

This is what "saving the planet" looks like. But the climate crazies will never understand.

[JamieSantos]

Of course, the air is safe to breathe!

[melvinjohnson]

Thank you EV owners with your demands for cheap replacement batteries!

[illbniceu]

Wait til they put one of these lithium recycle plants in your back yard. But don't worry they are safe just like the electric cars!!!

[oldowl]

In thermonuclear weapons, lithium-6 deuteride (a compound containing lithium and deuterium) plays a crucial role in boosting the weapon’s explosive yield. Here’s a simple breakdown of how it works:

1. Fusion Stage: In a thermonuclear (or hydrogen) bomb, there are two main stages: the primary and the secondary. The primary stage is a fission bomb that generates extreme temperatures and pressures. This energy then triggers the secondary stage, where fusion takes place.
2. Role of Lithium-6 Deuteride: When lithium-6 is exposed to the intense neutron flux from the fission reaction in the primary, it undergoes a reaction where it captures a neutron and produces tritium, a hydrogen isotope crucial for fusion. This newly generated tritium combines with deuterium in the lithium-6 deuteride to fuel fusion reactions.
3. Fusion-Boosted Yield: The fusion reactions involving tritium and deuterium release a significant amount of energy and produce more neutrons. These extra neutrons go on to cause more fission reactions in any uranium or plutonium in the weapon, effectively “boosting” the overall explosive yield.

In short, lithium-6 deuteride acts as a source of tritium under extreme conditions, making the fusion process more efficient and multiplying the total energy released in the explosion. This boosting process makes thermonuclear weapons much more powerful than conventional atomic bombs.

In battery and capacitor manufacturing, lithium undergoes several critical processes to enhance its performance, stability, and capacity. Here’s a look at how lithium is typically prepared and used in these applications:

1. Extraction and Purification: Lithium is first extracted from minerals (like spodumene) or brine deposits and then purified. This purification step is crucial for producing high-grade lithium compounds suitable for energy storage applications.
2. Lithium Compound Production:
• Lithium Carbonate (Li2CO3) and Lithium Hydroxide (LiOH) are the main compounds used as precursors in battery manufacturing, particularly for lithium-ion batteries.
• These compounds are used to produce cathode materials such as lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), depending on the specific battery application.
3. Electrolyte Preparation: In lithium-ion batteries, the electrolyte typically contains a lithium salt, like lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), dissolved in a mixture of organic solvents. This electrolyte allows lithium ions to flow between the anode and cathode during charging and discharging.
4. Lithium Foil and Coating: In solid-state batteries, lithium metal foil is often used as the anode material due to its high energy density. Lithium is also used to coat anode materials in certain batteries to improve performance and stability.
5. Capacitors: Lithium is sometimes used in lithium-ion capacitors (LICs), which combine characteristics of both capacitors and lithium-ion batteries. In LICs, lithium ions pre-dope the anode, which helps to maintain a stable voltage and improves the capacitor’s energy density.

In both batteries and capacitors, these processes and lithium compounds are optimized to ensure efficient energy storage, longevity, and safety. The high energy density of lithium, along with its ability to move easily between electrodes, makes it ideal for these applications.

[SpartacusColo]

I've got a great idea to save the environment! Let's make everyone drive electric cars! We can use lithium batteries!

[Jeremy-rgml]

Nothing like telling someone to turn around and go down wind from the fire what a idiot

[grabasandwich]

They couldn't be bothered to run the video thru a stabilizer before reposting it? I'm guessing the guy who recorded this sold out to them for a small chunk of change 😂

[ItsZetta]

As someone that lives down there it was very dramatic and it was actually very terrifying because we were by the schools were buying so much was going on

[panda]

Not leaving. The road across the street is public property. He’s not required to leave

[randallharman]

I think it’s portable and can be recharged.

[robynclark]

Wow!! Well that will teach them that they need to Stop making all these Lithium Batteries!! We don’t need No Electric Cars!! 😂
I hope No one got Hurt by This Tho!! 🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼

[bretlacquement]

This is NOT a Lithium battery plant. It is a lead battery recycling/recovery plant.

[hermosafieldsforever]

The liquid run-off will be highly toxic. I pray there are no creeks or rivers nearby

[diewson]

someone still using samsung galaxy note 8 in 2024?

[rapidcars]

Ladies and gentlemen, the firefighters honking their horn just means for everyone to get out. It's not a firefighters worst nightmare just so we're clear on that. I got a say that because there's a lot of that on social media.

[universeisundernoobligatio]

All those oil refineries never catch on fire do they?

[queefmicester]

electric cars are all ticking time bombs. Literally. I'm not joking I think it's all intentional and all by design.

[WillyTatSea]

This is why pyrotechnics are made and stored in many smaller bldgs. And distance separation.
Maybe re think your site layout🤪

[alexalex]

One day in the intended EV future there will be hundreds of them jammed up in an underground tunnel and this will happen.