This paper reports on the destabilization of oil-in-water macro emulsions prepared with diesel oil dispersed in a continuous water phase and stabilized by an anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (SDBS). Phase inversion temperature (PIT) of anionic surfactant-oil-water emulsion system was determined by measuring the conductivity as a function of temperature at different surfactant to oil ratios. The influence of different lands of inorganic salts on the PIT, electrophoretic properties and long-term stability of the o/w emulsion were studied by making measurements of conductivity, zeta potential and turbidity of the emulsion. PIT was found to be a linear function of logarithmic molar concentration of the electrolytes. Droplet size distribution of stable emulsion is found to have broader range for monovalent. electrolytes than that of higher valence cations. Larger the valence of cations, lower is the stability of the emulsion. By analyzing the evolution of emulsion droplet size, and turbidity of the resulting emulsion with Lime, the main destabilizing mechanisms of the o/w macro emulsion were explained It is found that coalescence, and Ostwald ripening could be the main destabilizing mechanisms of o/w macro emulsion (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.