Abstract: Metal can be recovered from metal-containing waste by means of liquid extraction processes. The waste is leached with sulphuric acid. The resulting metal sulphate solution is contacted with an organic solution of a reagent, so as to extract iron and zinc to the organic solution. The organic solution is washed with sulphuric acid in two steps, viz. with weaker acid in the first step, so as to transfer zinc to the washing solution, and with stronger acid in the second step, so as to transfer iron to the washing solution. Zinc and iron have now been separated, and are recovered from the washing solutions in known ways, for example by crystallization. If the waste contains other metals, in addition to iron and zinc, additional selective liquid extraction processes are added, before or after the iron-zinc-extraction.