A method for recovering nickel in solution includes steps of adding 4-6% of surfactant Span85, 3-5% of flowing carrier TBP (tributyl phosphate), and 1% of liquid paraffin into an emulsifying device to dissolve in membrane solvent kerosene, mixing at the speed of 500r / min for five minutes, dropwise adding 1-2mol / L NH3*H2O solution into the emulsifying device at the speed of 10-20mL / min according to an oil-inner ratio of 1:1, stirring at the speed of 4000-6000r / min for 15-20 minutes to obtain milk white emulsion, and allowing the emulsion to stand in a set time for standby; transferring a certain amount of 100-500mg / L into a mixing cup, stirring at the speed of 200-400r / min, adding product of stirring into another mixing cup according to an emulsion-water ratio of 1:3 to 1:5, stirring for 10-15 minutes, performing extraction and separation, allowing solution to stand and layer, and separating out emulsion for standby after 30 minutes; and subjecting the emulsion to combined heating-centrifugal demulsification to separate oil phase and water phase, and performing cyclic emulsification to recover rich nickel in the water phase. Emulsion liquid membranes obtained by the method are highly stable, nickel ion selectivity is high, and the method is simple.