Method of ion exchange cobalt recovery. Raffinate including cobalt, zinc, copper, nickel and ferric iron is produced. In the raffinate, the pH is raised, the solids are removed and ferric iron is reduced. A copper recovery ion exchange unit is loaded with ion exchange resin selective for copper. Raffinate is fed into the copper recovery ion exchange unit which is regenerated to recover substantially all copper. A cobalt/nickel/zinc recovery ion exchange unit is loaded with another ion exchange resin selective for cobalt. Raffinate is fed into the cobalt/nickel/zinc recovery ion exchange unit, the ion exchange resin holding cobalt, zinc and nickel, and then displaced. Cobalt/zinc eluent is fed into the cobalt/zinc/nickel recovery ion exchange unit to elute the cobalt and zinc in a cobalt/zinc solution, and then displaced. Nickel eluent is fed into the cobalt/zinc/nickel recovery ion exchange unit to elute the nickel.