COMPLEXIBLE LIGANDS CONTAINED IN A FEED STREAM ARE COMPLEXED WITH A LIQUID SORBENT SOLUTION OF CUPROUS ALUMINUM HALIDE. THE COMPLXED COMPLEXIBLE LIGANDS ARE THEN SEPARATED BY A LIGAND EXCHANGE OPERATIONS GENERALLY REQUIRING N-1 LIGAND EXCHANGE OPERATIONS FOR N COMPLEXED COMPLEXIBLE LIGANDS TO BE SEPARATED. THE SEPARATION IN EACH LIGAND EXCHANGE OPERATION IS EFFECTED BY CONTACTING THE SEVERAL COMPLEXED COMPLEXIBLE LIGANDS WITH A STRIPPING LIGAND WHICH FORMS A MORE STABLE COMPLEX WITH THE SORBENT THAT THE COMPLEXIBLE LIGAND OR LIGANDS TO BE SEPARATED AND RECOVERED, AND EXCHANGING THE STRILPPING LIGAND FOR THE COMPLEXIBLE LIGAND OR LIGANDS IN THE SORBENT COMPLEX.