In this paper, the separation of ultrafine alumina and zircon particles by a liquid-liquid extraction method was investigated using kerosene as the organic phase and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) as the surfactant collector, with application to the recycling of waste generated in abrasive manufacturing. The characteristics of alumina/zircon particles transferred from water to kerosene phase, as well as the effect of SDS addition, were first investigated individually. The separation of an alumina-zircon particle mixture was then conducted to find the optimal extraction conditions. Finally, the technique was applied to abrasive manufacturing waste. The results indicate that without the addition of a surfactant collector, more than half of the alumina particles were extracted from the water phase to the kerosene phase at pH ranging from 8 to 10. With the addition of more than 0.1 kg/ton SDS, alumina particles were completely extracted to the kerosene phase from pH 7 to pH 10. On the other hand, pH and SDS addition had no significant effect on the extracted fraction of zircon, which remained at approximately 5-10% throughout the tested pH range. By extracting alumina to the kerosene phase and leaving zircon in the water phase, the two could be separated. Optimal extraction conditions for the mutual separation of alumina-zircon particle mixture were found at pH 9.5 with 1.25 kg/ton SDS addition. Similar results were obtained after application of the technique to abrasive manufacturing waste. Under these conditions, the grade of zircon in the water phase solids was 96.2% with recovery of 77.4%, and the grade of alumina in the kerosene phase solids was 76.9% with recovery of 96.1%. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.