Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhanced process for the recovery of lithium from compositions also containing aluminum. An example of such a metallurgical compositions is the metallurgical slag that is obtained when recycling lithium-ion batteries or their derived products using a pyrometallurgical smelting process. Acid leaching of such a slag, followed by neutralization to precipitate aluminum leads to poor lithium yields as lithium tends to co-precipitate with aluminum. A process is presented wherein aluminum is selectively precipitated using a source of phosphate at a controlled pH preferably between 3 and 4.