The transport of Cu(II) through a chloroform bulk liquid membrane containing anew tetradentates Schiff base; N,N-bis(salicylidene)-naphthylene-1,8-diamine (NBSND) as an excellent synthetic carrier was studied. Although in the case of acidic receiving phase without any surfactant, only a few percent of copper had been transported into the receiving phase after several hours, the addition of sub milimolar of an anionic surfactant such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) into the receiving phase increases the percent of copper transported to more than 97%. Parameters such as pH of source phase, the types and concentrations of surfactants and carrier concentration were studied. This transport is very selective to copper over alkali, alkaline earth and several transition and heavy metal ions. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.