Release Characteristics of Organic Pollutants and Occupational Exposure During Lithium Battery Production and Disposal: A Case Study on N-Methylpyrrolidone

• • NMP release is highest during coating/drying in production and during electrolyte volatilization and pyrolysis in disposal; at 150°C in air, NMP concentrations reached 169 μg/g in gas phase for polymer batteries, indicating significant volatilization risk. • • Under N2 pyrolysis at 850°C, NMP was completely degraded in solid residues (0 μg/g) but remained in gas phase (7.24 μg/g for ternary batteries), demonstrating incomplete thermal destruction and potential emission. • • Occupational exposure via dust ingestion in unprotected settings exceeds reference doses, highlighting the need for engineering controls and personal protective equipment in battery recycling facilities. • • The study establishes a mass balance for NMP across thermal treatment temperatures, showing that lower temperatures (150°C) favor volatilization while higher temperatures (≥550°C) lead to thermal decomposition, but gas-phase residues persist.