K+ and Na+ were separated by emulsion liquid membrane. Such a liquid membrane system has evolved to a practical stage in a new area of the application of macrocyclic ether. Experimental results showed that the extractibility of emulsion liquid membrane depended on the reagent in the inner aqueous phase
the anion in the outer aqueous phase
membrane solvent
and the crown ethers pairing with the metal cation. A mass transfer model of diffusion was proposed and agreed with the experimental results well.