Process for recovering tungsten values from alkali solutions

A continuous process for producing ammonium tungstate from an aqueous alkali metal tungstate solution and reduciing the concentration of alkali metal impurities in ammonium tungstate produced comprising the steps of:

• (a) extracting tungsten values into an organic extractant by contacting said aqueous alkali metal tungstate solution with said organic extractant for a sufficient period of time to form a loaded organic extractant containing tungsten values and an aqueous solution, said organic extractant comprising:
• a high molecular weight tertiary alkyl amine and an water insoluble aliphatic organic solvent, (b) separating said loaded organic extractant from said aqueous solution, (c) stripping said loaded organic extractant from step b by contacting with an aqueous ammonia solution to form an aqueous ammonium tungstate solution and a stripped organic extractant, (d) separating said aqueous ammonium tungstate from said stripped organic extractant, (e) washing said stripped organic extractant to remove a portion of alkali metal impurities and (f) contacting said stripped organic extractant with activated carbon for removing additional alkali metal impurities, (g) feeding said stripped organic extractant from step (e) to step (a) for use as said organic extractant.