Removal of chromium from cobalt

A process for removing chromium from cobalt, said process comprising:

• (a) contacting a chromium containing acidic cobalt chloride solution with an oxidizing agent to oxidize the cobalt contained therein;
• (b) adjusting the pH of the resulting solution containing the oxidized cobalt and other metallic elements to a pH of from about 3.2 to about 5.5 with a base to form a first solid containing essentially all of the chromium as chromium hydroxide and a portion of the cobalt and a first liquor containing the balance of the cobalt;
• (c) separating said first solid from said first liquor;
• (d) heating said first solid at a sufficient temperature to remove essentially all of the water and form a second solid;
• (e) contacting said second solid with sufficient water and ammonium hydroxide to form a slurry which is at a pH of greater than about 3.8, said slurry consisting essentially of a second liquor which contains essentially all of the cobalt which was present in said second solid and a third solid which contains essentially all of the chromium which was initially present in said acidic cobalt chloride solution;
• and
• (f) separating said third solid from said third liquor.