Carrier-facilitated transport of mercury(II) against its concentration gradient from aqueous 0.1 mol dm À3 hydrochloric acid solution across a¯at-sheet supported liquid membrane (SLM) containing triisobutylphosphine sul®de (Cyanex 471X) as the mobile carrier in kerosene as diluent has been investigated. Dilute sodium thiocyanate solution (0.11 mol dm À3 ) was the most ef®cient stripping agent among several aqueous reagents tested. Various parameters such as stirring rate, concentration of HCl in the feed solution, concentration of NaSCN in the strippant, concentration of Cyanex 471X in the membrane, and contact time were investigated. Under optimum conditions the transport of Hg(II) across the liquid membrane is about 100% after 6 h. The carrier, Cyanex 471X, selectively and ef®-ciently transported Hg(II) ions in the presence of other associated metal ions. The method has been demonstrated to recover selectively mercury from waste samples and mercurochrome solution.