Recovery of iron(III), HNO3, and HF from stainless steel rinse waters by liquid-liquid extraction using Cyanex-923 extractant was studied. The influence of equilibration time, temperature, V-aq/V-org phase ratios, and extractant concentrations on the extraction of iron(III) was investigated. Furthermore, the separate extraction of HNO3 and HF by Cyanex-923 was also studied. Conditions for the coextraction of iron(III), HNO3, and HF were established as: 30 min of contact, 20degreesC, V-aq/V-org phase ratio of I and using undiluted Cyanex-923 (water presaturated) as extractant. Under the appropriate experimental conditions, water is effective for the selective stripping of the three extracted solutes. (C) 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.