This work aims to optimize the parameters influencing the stability of a W/O emulsion and to use it in the extraction of heavy metals present in aqueous media.\nThe study of the emulsion stability shows that a time of emulsification of 10 minutes, a concentration of surfactant, Span80 at 3% (w/w), a concentration of extractant, Triethylamine at 5% (w/w), an internal phase concentration of 0.75 M in H3PO4, a volume ratio of the membrane phase to the internal phase of 1, a volume ratio of the external phase to the emulsion of 20 and a stirring speed of 180 rpm lead to the formulation of a stable emulsion.\nThe results of extraction of the copper ions show that under the best optimized experimental conditions, the extraction yield is equal to 93.33% for 20% extractant content, a contact time of 12 minutes and a concentration of initial copper ions of 400 ppm.\nThe results obtained prove that by an appropriate choice of experimental parameters, it is possible to extract almost all the metal ions present in the solution, which shows that the emulsified liquid membrane extraction (ELM) process is a method of very interesting separation for the removal of heavy metals.