A novel liquid membrane system, denoted strip dispersion hybrid liquid membrane (SDHLM) containing tri-n-octylamine-secondary octanol in kerosene, was reported for the transport and separation of Cd(II) from Zn(II) ions. The experiments show that Cd(II) can be efficiently transported into stripping solution with SDHLM. In the experimental comparison of transport flux, permeability coefficient, recovery percentage or concentration of solute in stripping solution, efficiency of uphill transport, loss of membrane solution, and separation efficiency of membrane for two types of liquid membrane, SDHLM has superiority over SLM. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.