Separation of metal ion complex, [(C12H8N2)(3)Fe2+], with surfactant sodium dodecylphrate (DLS) complex from aqueous phase was carried out by solvent sublation, which obeys first-order kinetics. On the base of the complete transport mechanisms, the Langmuir adsorption, and the ion complex equilibrium in the aqueous phase, a mathematical model for the [(C12H8N2)(3)Fe2+]-surfactant ion complex is obtained with the aid of the Mathematic 4.0 program, 4th Runge-Kutta method, and the Matlab programs. The effects of many parameters, such as K-a, K-1, K-ow, d(i), V-o, V-w, and Q(a), on solvent sublation are investigated. Furthermore, the simulation showed that the model is substantiated for experiments on the solvent sublation of the complex. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All fights reserved.