Recycling routes and orientations set the tone for the feasibility of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) recycling. An economically feasible hydrometallurgical route for the recycling of strategic metals from LIBs cathode materials was in great need both in the sense of achieving the sustainable development of clean energy and emissions reductions. Three scenarios with routes emphasis on higher lithium and cobalt recovery and orientations incline towards high overall recovery and profit, respectively, were compared, i.e., scenarios A and B with the same orientation (high overall recovery) in different routes (higher lithium and cobalt recovery, respectively), scenario B and C with same routes (high cobalt recovery) in different orientations (high overall recovery and profit, respectively). With the assistance of thermodynamic simulations and profit calculations, three scenarios were tested for recycling 1Kg of spent cathode materials. The highest leaching and Li₂CO₃ precipitation ratio were achieved in scenario A, followed by scenario B with the highest cobalt recovery ratio, however, the optimum profit was achieved in scenario C with the lowest costs. A comparison among scenarios A, B, and C indicate that a profit-oriented strategic metals recovery process is more reasonable for LIBs recycling.

回收路线和方向为锂离子电池（LIB）回收的可行性定下了基调。从实现清洁能源的可持续发展和减少排放的意义上，迫切需要一种经济可行的湿法冶金路线，用于从LIB阴极材料中回收战略金属。比较了三种路线分别强调锂和钴的回收率较高且方向倾向于较高的总体回收率和利润的方案，即，方案A和B在不同路线中具有相同的取向（总体回收率较高）（锂和钴的回收率较高） ，方案B和C的路线相同（钴回收率较高），但方向不同（分别具有较高的总体回收率和利润）。在热力学模拟和利润计算的帮助下，测试了三种回收1Kg废阴极材料的方案。沥沥最高在方案A中实现了_2个CO ₃沉淀率，随后是钴回收率最高的方案B，但是，在方案C中实现了最低成本的最佳利润。方案A，B和C之间的比较表明，以利润为导向的战略金属回收过程对于LIB的回收更为合理。