A process for recovering cobalt ion, nickel ion and manganese ion from metal-containing residues

The present invention relates to a process for recovering one or more metal ions selected from the group consisting of Cobalt, Nickel, Manganese and a mixture thereof from metal-containing residues comprising: A) leaching the residue with a leaching solution comprising lactic acid to obtain a filtrate 1 and a solid cake 1; B) separating the filtrate 1; C) precipitating the Cobalt lactate, Nickel lactate or Manganese lactate from the filtrate 1 to obtain a filtrate 2 and a precipitate 1; and D) separating the precipitate 1; or alternatively, A) leaching the residue with the leaching solution to obtain a filtrate 1 and a solid cake 1; E) precipitating the Cobalt lactate, Nickel lactate or Manganese lactate from the filtrate 1 to obtain a filtrate 3 and a solid cake 2; and F) separating the solid cake 2; and G) separating the Cobalt lactate, Nickel lactate or Manganese lactate from the solid cake 2.