This diploma thesis examines hazardous metals used in electric vehicle batteries, their extraction, recycling, and impact on the environment. Due to the rapid development of electric mobility, the demand for batteries is continuously increasing, which also increases the consumption of raw materials such as lithium, nickel, and lead. The extraction of these metals has a significant impact on the environment because it causes changes to natural habitats, high energy consumption, soil and water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. As the availability of raw materials is limited, efficient recycling of waste batteries is becoming increasingly important.
The thesis presents the basic types of batteries, their composition and operation, as well as the characteristics of the most important hazardous metals they contain. Special attention is given to the extraction of lithium, nickel, and lead, their impacts on human health and the environment, and the largest deposits of these metals in the world. The processes of collecting, preparing, sorting, and recycling used batteries are also discussed, as well as the current state of battery recycling in Slovenia. In the analytical part, the metals are compared according to their environmental impacts, their major deposits are presented, and selected data related to electric vehicle batteries are examined.
The final part of the thesis presents the findings, which show that proper collection and recycling of batteries play an important role in reducing negative environmental impacts, enable the reuse of valuable raw materials, and support the development of a circular economy. The thesis also emphasizes the importance of developing new technologies that will enable more efficient use of natural resources and contribute to the sustainable development of electric mobility.
|
