Lithium cobaltate forming the positive electrode of a lithium secondary
battery is subjected together with lithium metal to reducing reaction in
molten lithium chloride to produce lithium oxide and to precipitate and
separate cobalt or cobalt oxide. The lithium oxide is subjected to
electro-deposition in molten lithium chloride contained in a lithium
electro-deposition tank provided with an anode and a cathode to recover
lithium metal deposited on the cathode.