In this paper, interfacial tension of Cyanex 302 is measured by a Sigma-701 tensiometer and the adsorption parameters are calculated according to the Gibbs and Szyszkowski adsorption isotherms. The interfacial adsorbed behavior of Cyanex 302 is investigated. The results demonstrate that the dimer is the predominant species in the bulk organic phase; however, the monomer is adsorbed at the interface and more interfacially active. The effects of aqueous pH, ion strength, and temperature on the interfacial activity of Cyanex 302 in heptane are discussed and explained in detail. The lower interfacial activity of Cyanex 302 in aromatic hydrocarbon than in aliphatic hydrocarbon has also been determined. The values of interfacial excess at the saturated interface increase in the order n-heptane > cyclohexane > toluene > benzene, which is consistent with the order of extractability of lanthanum by Cyanex 302 in these diluents. The interfacial activity data are used to discuss the kinetic mechanism of lanthanum(III) extraction. It is shown that an interfacial mechanism is very probable, and the extraction limiting step is the reaction between the Cyanex 302 molecules in the organic phase sublayer and the adsorbed intermediate complex. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.