Separation and recovery of nickel cobalt manganese lithium from waste ternary lithium-ion batteries

•A full-flowtechnological route for the separation and recovery of nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium from waste ternary lithium-ion batteries was optimized by focusing on the extraction to decrease the loss of metal ions.•Leaching kinetics was analyzed as surface chemical reaction and diffusion of solid phase product layer.•The extraction mechanism was analyzed by FT-IR and slope method.•The DMG and extractant in the process can be recycled, which helps to protect the environment and save costs.