1. A HYDROMETALLURGICAL PROCESS FOR RECOVERING A SUBSTANTIALLY NICKEL-FREE COBALT SOLUTION FROM THE LIQUOR CONTAINING DISSOLVED NICKEL AND COBALT WHICH COMPRISES: ADJUSTING THE SOLUTES CONTENT OF SAID LIQUOR TO PROVIDE ABOUT 5 MOLS OF AMMONIA FOR EACH MOL OF DISSOLVED CONBALT PLUS ABOUT 5 MOLS OF AMMONIA FOR EACH MOL OF DISSOLVED NICKEL AND A SULFATE ION CONCENTRATION AT LEAST SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY THE DISSOLVED COBALT CONTENT IN ITS TRIVALENT STATE AND DISSOLVED NICKEL IN ITS BIVALENT STATE; OXIDIZING THE ADJUSTED LIQUOR WITH A SULFUR-FREE, OXYGENBEARING OXIDIZING GAS; INTRODUCING SULFURIC ACID INTO SAID OXIDIZED LIQUOR TO PRODUCE A HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION AT LEAST EQUIVALENT TO A PH OF ABOUT 4, WHEREBY A SUBSTANTIALLY COBALT-FREE, NICKEL-BEARING PRECIPITATE IS FORMED; AND SEPARATING SAID PRECIPITATE LEAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY NICKEL-FREE, COBALT-BEARING LIQUOR.