Effective diffusivity in a (W/O) emulsion drop was investigated based on the extraction of ammonia from the inner aqueous droplet phase to external aqueous solution of sulfuric acid in a spray column operation. Values of the effective diffusivity were compared with the values calculated from a permeation cubic model taking into account the effect of the surfactant on the diffusion in membrane phase and the interfacial resistance. The surfactant reduced the diffusivity through the membrane solution while the surfactant layer at the oil-water interfaces had a significant resistance to the permeation across the liquid surfactant membrane.