Cloud-point extraction (CPE) was used with lipophilic chelating agent to extract uranium(VI) from aqueous solutions. The methodology used is based on the formation of metal complexes soluble in a micellar phase of a non-ionic surfactant, Triton X-114. The metal ions complexes are then extracted into the surfactant-rich phase at a temperature above the cloud-point temperature. The influence of surfactant concentration on extraction efficiency was studied and the advantage of adding 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ) as lipophilic chelating agent was evidenced. High extraction efficiency was observed, indicating the feasibility of extracting U(VI) using CPE. This study describes a four-step process -(1) extraction, (2) thermo-induced phase splitting, (3) back-extraction and (4) second phase splitting - for the recovery of uranium from water. In our conditions, the extraction yield is quantitative and the concentration factor obtained is superior to 100. After stripping with a diluted nitric acid solution (pH < 1), the system can be recycled through a new four-step cycle. (c) 2006 Society of Chemical Industry