Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, bundles of carbon nanotubes are separated from individual nanotubes via interfacial trapping of bundled carbon nanotube bundles at an emulsion interface between suspension-phase and a solution-phase. The separation method comprises dispersing a mixture of individual and bundled carbon nanotubes in a solution comprising surfactant; adding at least one solvent to the surfactant solution to form a two-phase mixture; agitating the two-phase mixture to form an emulsion interface between the solution-phase and a suspension-phase, where nanotube bundles selectively segregate to the emulsion interface. Single-walled carbon nanotube suspensions exhibit strong fluorescence, which can be used to assess the degree of separation and determine if a repeated extraction of any remaining bundled carbon nanotubes remaining in the suspension-phase is desired. In another embodiment of the invention, separation of carbon nanotubes by type is carried out by interfacial trapping.