Abstract: Vanadium catalyst residues can be removed from solutions of organic solvents of homopolymers of .alpha.-olefins or their copolymers with hydrocarbon monomers by first contacting at a temperature of about room temperature to about 140.degree. C. the polymer solutions with polar liquid extractants supported on an inert, finely divided, solid material, such as diatomaceous silica, silica gel, alumina, or molecular sieves, then separating the solution from the solid material. Water is the preferred polar liquid, and diatomaceous silica is the preferred supporting material. Polymers recovered from solutions treated according to the process of this invention have a much lesser proportion of vanadium contaminants than those recovered from untreated solutions. This vanadium removal process is simple and inexpensive.