Evaluation of tris-2-ethyl hexyl phosphate (TEHP) for counter-current extraction and separation of U(VI) from a mixture of U(VI)–Th(IV)–Y(III) from nitric acid medium was carried out under wide experimental conditions. Batch extraction studies were carried out to investigate the effect of nitric acid concentration in feed solution, U(VI)/Th(IV) ratio and extractant concentration and the results were compared with established solvent such as tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) for separation of U(VI) from nitric acid medium. McCabe–Thiele diagrams for extraction as well as stripping of U(VI) were constructed  under simulated conditions. Based on batch experiments, six stage counter-current extraction studies were conducted under various TEHP concentration and it was observed that 0.1 M TEHP/n-paraffin was most suitable for selective recovery of U(VI) from a mixture of U(VI)–Th(IV). An optimized condition, 0.1 M TEHP/n-paraffin, 2 M HNO₃ in feed and six number of stages was evaluated for selective extraction and stripping of U(VI) from a solution containing mixture of U(VI)–Th(IV)–Y(III) in nitric acid medium. The U(VI) in strip solution was precipitated using 30 % H₂O₂ at pH ~3. Average particle size of the final precipitate was found to be ~33 lm.