The coupled transport of copper(II) ions through supported liquid membranes (SLM) was examined in zeroth order steady-state kinetic regime using Acorga P-50 as carrier. SLM life-times were estimated using a new method based on kinetic analysis. The influence of different experimental conditions on the transport rate allowed to establish various factors determining membrane stability. SLM life-time seems to depend in a clearcut way on both the type of polymeric support and the nature of liquid membranes suggesting that solute-solvent (and polymer solvent) interactions play a dominant role in membrane stability. It was shown that water transport, if any, occurs only through empty pores of the polymeric support. No clear effect of osmotic pressure gradient on liquid membrane stability was found.