Phosphoric acid was innovatively used as leaching and precipitating agent. Over 99% Co and Li can be separated and recovered in a single leaching step. Co and Li can be separated under mild conditions of 40 °C and 0.7 M H3PO4. Activation energy values for Co and Li are 7.3 and 10.168 kJ/mol. Cobalt phosphate (97.1% in purity) can be obtained as the leaching product.