The invention provides a method for extracting transition metals, the method comprising supplying a feedstream containing transition metal, mixing the feedstream with nitric acid for a time and at a concentration sufficient to form an aqueous phase containing the transition metal, combining the aqueous phase with organic extractant phase for a time and at a concentration sufficient to cause the transition metal to reside within the organic extractant phase, and combining the transition metal-containing organic extractant phase with an hydroxamic acid-containing aqueous phase at a concentration and for a time sufficient to cause the transition metal to reside in the hydroxamic acid-containing aqueous phase.