Achieving true circularity for the critical materials utilized inLithium-ion batteries lithium-ion batteries requires advancements in the state-of-the-art for battery recyclingRecycling. Fine battery scrap (“black mass”) contains residual metallic contaminants (Cu, Al, Fe, etc.) as well as non-metallic impuritiesImpurities (e.g., plastics) that reduce recycled material performance and may ultimately induce catastrophic cell failure. Successful direct recyclingDirect recycling of black massBlack mass relies on the effective removal and recovery of these metallic contaminants under conditions that do not adversely impact the cathode material. In the present work, we demonstrate a multi-modal purificationPurification approach based on tailored alkaline chemistry to selectively leach metallic contaminants from a matrix of black mass. Process conditions have been rationally tuned at the pre-pilot scale to minimize processing time while maximizing the purity of the resulting output product. We utilize a diverse suite of purificationPurification strategies—including oxidation, chelation, magnetic separation, flotation, and membrane extraction—in a single batch system to selectively target, remove, and recover impuritiesImpurities from battery black massBlack mass. We have developed a circular offtake strategy for the reclaimed Al impurity product, and have also identified further treatment optima for the resulting cathode material to promote optimized surface conditions for subsequent direct recyclingRecycling treatment. Herein, we present on the development of this method from idealized bench-scale optimization experiments to scale-up and demonstration in an industrially relevant reactor system. We report on the efficacy of purification utilizing a series of real-world battery black massBlack mass samples that have been variably pre-processed. We also demonstrate successful integration this method with upstream and downstream direct recyclingDirect recycling processes. Finally, we address the reclamation of metallic impuritiesImpurities as valuable side-products from our purificationPurification method. Our optimized multi-modal approach represents a promising strategy to purify battery black massBlack mass fines under conditions that both retain the engineered value of the cathode product and enable recovery/reuse of the metallic contaminants, thereby maximizing overall value to the critical materials supplySupply chain.