The carrier activity of several phenoxy ethers toward the facilitated transport of alkali metal ions through a chloroform bulk liquid membrane has been studied. A brief description of the synthesis of carrier compounds has been given, and the mechanism of transport process has been discussed. The organic carriers are protonated on the receiving side of a permeation cell, and the protons are exchanged with the metal ions at the membrane interphase of the feed side. Protonation of carriers has been confirmed from electronic spectral studies. A high degree of selectivity for Na+ transport has been observed when 1,2-bis-(2-acetyl phenoxy) ethane is used as carrier whereas dibenzo-[a,e]-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethyl-7,10-dioxocyclodeca-1,5-dione facilitated selective transport of K+.