By considering the resistances of rare-earth ions in both the external and membrane phases, the interfacial reaction and the membrane breakage, a mathematical model for the extraction of rare-earth ions by batch emulsion liquid membrane process is established. Further, two simplified mass transfer equations are also derived from the proposed model in each of the specified cases. The validity of both the model and the resulting equations are tested by batch extraction of Sm3+ with emulsion liquid membrane containing di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid as a carrier in kerosene. The experimental results show that both the proposed model and the resulting equations can simulate mass transfer process satisfactorily.