Phenols pose a risk to the environment and to human health. Phenol and its derivatives are toxic pollutants, frequently found in surface and tap waters, and in aqueous effluents from various manufacturing processes. In this
paper, an experimental study regarding transport of phenol through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) using tributyl phosphate (TBP) and sesame oil as liquid membrane (LM) was performed. Factors affecting permeation of phenol
such as initial phenol concentration, carrier concentration, feed phase pH and stripping phase concentration were
analyzed using Taguchi method. Optimal experimental condition of phenol transport was obtained using analysis
of variance (ANOVA) after 7 h extraction (feed concentration: 200 mg/L; carrier concentration (%TBP): 40%; feed pH:
2; strip phase concentration: 1.1 M). Mass transfer coefficient for this system was evaluated, and compared with
similar works, and it was shown that it has the highest mass transfer rate. In addition to transport study, stability
of the membrane was investigated by examination of stripping phase concentration, carrier concentration and salt
concentration effects.