A solvent extraction process for the improved separation of copper from cobalt in chloride solutions in which an organic solution containing an amine solvent, such as tri-iso-octylamine, is cycled around a closed organic circuit comprising in turn co-extraction of cobalt and copper from the chloride solution, preferential stripping of cobalt from the organic solution into water or dilute chloride solution thereby forming a cobalt eluate, stripping of copper from the organic, and return of the regenerated organic to the co-extraction step. The invention comprises dividing the organic into two streams, coextracting cobalt and copper from the chloride solution into one stream, preferentially extracting copper from the cobalt eluate into the other stream, and combining the two streams for preferential cobalt stripping therefrom, thereby forming a closed preferential cobalt stripping, preferential copper extracting circuit and producing a purified cobalt eluate.