The use of lipophilic 1,10-didecyl-1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 in a supported liquid membrane for the separation of transition metal ions, particularly copper ions under natural aquatic conditions, was evaluated. The effect of parameters such as carrier concentration, source phase pH and the nature of the ligands used in the strip phase on the transport of copper ions was studied. Among the ligands tested in the strip phase, sodium pyrophosphate (pH > 6) was found to be the best stripping agent as pyrophosphate ions were not transported across the membrane whereas other potentially good metal ion stripping ligands were transported.