O-nitrosophenols as extractants for metal values

A process for recovering at least one metal value selected from the group consisting of copper, cobalt, manganese and nickel from an aqueous solution while rejecting iron comprising contacting said aqueous solution at acid pH with an organic phase comprising a liquid, substantially water-immiscible, organic solvent and a substituted 6-chloro orthonitrosophenol wherein the substituent groups on said phenol contain 6-20 carbon atoms to extract at least a portion of the metal values in said aqueous solution and thereafter separating the organic phase from the aqueous phase and recovering metal values from the organic phase.