Leaching of electrodic powders from lithium ion batteries: Optimization of operating conditions and effect of physical pretreatment for waste fraction retrieval.

•LIB electrodic powders were recovered using two pilot scale mechanical treatments.•Pretreatment including crushing, sieving and milling gave the best recovery yields.•Crushing, milling and sieving allowed 50% mass recovery as powder <0.5mm.•H2SO4 (1.1–1.2M) and H2O2 (2.5M) gave quantitative extraction of Co and Li for S/L=1/10.•Using glucose (0.05M) as reductant allowed quantitative extraction of Co and Li.