In the separation of toluene/n-heptane mixture by the emulsion type liquid membrane in a batch system, the effect of surfactants on the separation factor and membrane stability were studied over the surfactant concentration ranging from 0.1 to 1.5 wt% at the contact time of 5 and 10 minutes and the settling time 5 and 10 minutes. The surfactants used were triethanol amine lauryl sulfate. The separation factor reached its maximum value at the surfactant concentration of 0.5 wt%. It was found that the percentage of membrane breakup reached its minium values and the separation factor showed its maximum value at the surfactant concentration of 0.5 wt%, which confirmed that efficient separation could be effect when emulsion liquid membrane were stable because of low membrane break up.