A micellar solution of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) exhibits the property of being separated into two phases due to a temperature change or the addition of salts. The ammine-complexes of copper(II), nickel(II) and palladium(II) reacted with the dodecylsulfate anion to form the corresponding ion-pair, and were extracted into the SDS gel phase. The SDS plays the roles of a pairing-ion for the ammine-complexes and of an extraction medium. The ion-pair extraction mechanism was investigated; the extractability of metals was given by the function of the solubility products of the ion-pairs. This method was applied to the mutual separation of Ni(II)/Cu(II) and Pd(II)/Pt(II). The driving force for the extraction was an electrostatic interaction between the cationic complex and the surfactant anion. The use of the SDS gel as ion-exchanger is also expected. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.