The effect of an applied electrical field across a plane liquid-liquid interface on the rate of metal extraction using hydroxyoximes and dialkylphosphoric acids as extractants is examined, The results indicate that applied electric fields have no marked influence on the observed rate of metal extraction when aliphatic hydrocarbons are employed as the diluents in the organic phase. Increases in mass transfer rates of up to 250% were observed when mixtures of octanol and an aliphatic hydrocarbon were employed as the diluent in the organic phase, The mechanism of transfer is thought to be a combination of movement of charges in the bulk of the nonconducting organic phase and electrohydrodynamic flows due to local variations in the effective interfacial tension as a result of the applied electric fields.