Water-Related Environmental Impacts of Lithium-ion Battery Recycling and Decomposition

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are indispensable for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and renewable energy storage, yet their end-of-life management poses substantial threats to water systems. Improper disposal and informal processing of LIBs can release toxic metals (cobalt, and nickel, lithium) and persistent electrolyte compounds into groundwater and surface waters, posing ecological and human health risks. This paper reviews contamination pathways, including landfill leachate, acid leaching wastewater, and particulate emissions, and their impacts on fish, algae, and amphibians. Hydrometallurgical recycling, though highly efficient in material recovery, generates complex effluents needing treatment, whereas pyrometallurgical methods, while minimizing liquid waste, produce slag and airborne pollutants. Emerging techniques such as closed-loop hydrometallurgy, green solvents, bioleaching, and direct physical recycling show promise in reducing water-related impacts, especially when coupled with desalination and water reuse strategies. Aligning these advances with international policy frameworks, including the EU Battery Directive and U.S. EPA guidelines, is critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The paper contends that addressing LIB water impacts necessitates an interdisciplinary approach integrating hydrogeology, environmental chemistry, and sustainability science to build a circular economy that safeguards water resources while advancing the energy transition.