The extraction equilibrium of Co(II) from thiocyanate medium by CYANEX 923 (mixture of straight chain alkylated phosphine oxides) in cyclohexane was studied. The stoichiometry of the extraction reaction was postulated based on slope analysis method and the extraction constant K-ex was calculated. The stripping percentage of Co(II) with sulphuric acid from the loaded CYANEX 923 was found to increase with the increase in acid concentration. The extraction of Co(II) from aqueous thiocyanate medium into emulsion liquid membrane using CYANEX 923 extractant was also studied. The influence of different parameters such as stirring speed, surfactant concentration, pH of the extractant phase, carrier concentration, internal phase stripping acid concentration, initial Co(II) concentration as well as temperature on the emulsion stability were investigated. The applicability of the emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) process using CYANEX 923 as extractant and SPAN 80 as surfactant for the removal and the concentration of Co(II) from thiocyanate solution was investigated. The results show that it is possible to recover 95% of cobalt in the inner phase after 10 min of contacting time with a concentration factor of 5. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.