Flotation behavior of the most common electrode materials in lithium ion batteries

•Recoveries up to 99.63% for graphite and 9.47% for lithium metal oxides are reported in the concentrate stream.•The flotation recovery of lithium metal oxides in concentrates is mainly controlled by water entrainment and particle size.•Froth flotation is highly efficient for a system when the graphite and lithium metal oxides are completely liberated.