In the present invention, a
reducing agent containing at least one substance selected from the group consisting of
iron metal and iron oxides is added to an
oxide containing at least one valuable element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Mn and
impurity elements constituted of
copper and iron, thereby obtaining an
oxide mixture. The
oxide mixture is heated to reduce the oxide to thereby obtain a
metal. The present invention obtains a
leachate containing a valuable element and an
impurity element by bringing the
metal into contact with an acid solution. A sulfurizing agent is added to the
leachate so as to cause
copper to precipitate as
copper sulfide, thereby obtaining a copper removal solution. An
oxidizing agent is added to the copper removal solution so as to cause iron to precipitate as iron
hydroxide, thereby obtaining a valuable element solution containing a valuable element. The valuable element solution, a complexing agent, and an alkaline
aqueous solution are introduced into a reaction tank liquid to obtain a precipitate containing the valuable element.