Recovery of aluminum from spent liquor

In accordance with the invention, spent liquor from an alumina precipitation stage is contacted with an extraction fluid to separate the mixture into a first layer comprising the extraction fluid and at least a portion of the caustic from the spent liquor and a second layer which comprises the remainder of the spent liquor. The spent liquor may then be subjected to a further precipitation to recover further alumina. The spent liquor remaining may be further treated in subsequent extraction steps to concentrate and dispose of undesirable impurities remaining.