Abstract: A liquid membrane technique is disclosed for recovery of dissolved species from aqueous solutions thereof in which, by appropriate tailoring of the emulsion, electrostatic precipitation can be used successfully in the recovery of the species from the interior phase of the emulsion. The emulsion is so prepared that the droplet size of the interior phase of the emulsion is in the range of from about 0.3 micrometers to about 10 micrometers, with the majority of the droplets lying in the range of from about 0.8 micrometers to about 3 micrometers. The electrostatic field is preferably at least 1 kilovolt per centimeter up to 7.5 kilovolts per centimeter or more.