Nano-assisted inclusion separation of alkali metals from basic solutions was reported by inclusion-facilitated emulsion liquid membrane process. The novelty of this study is application of nano-baskets of calixcrown in the selective and efficient separation of alkali metals as both the carrier and the surfactant. For this aim

four derivatives of diacid calix[4

]

-1

3-crowns-4

5 were synthesized

and their inclusion-extraction parameters were optimized including the calixcrown scaffold (4.4%

by mass) as the carrier/demulsifier

the commercial kerosene as diluent in membrane

sulphonic acid (0.2 mol·L

-1

) and ammonium carbonate (0.4 mol·L

-1

) as the strip and the feed phases

the phase and the treat ratios of 0.8 and 0.3

mixing speed (300 r·min

-1

)

and initial solute concentration (100 mg·L

-1

). The selectivity of membrane over more than ten interfering cations was examined and the results reveled that under the optimized operating condition

the degree of inclusion-extraction of alkali metals was as high as 98%-99%.