Liquid-liquid extraction is the most common method for extraction of aromatics from their mixtures with aliphatic hydrocarbons. An ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide [BMpyr][NTf(2)] was tested as solvent for this separation. The liquid-liquid equilibria (LLE) of the ternary mixtures heptane + benzene, or toluene, or ethylbenzene + [BMpyr][NTf(2)] were carried out at 298.15 K. The solvent ability of the IL was evaluated in terms of solute distribution ratio and selectivity. The results were compared with those previously reported for the extraction of aromatics from its mixtures with heptane by using ILs. The conventional process using sulfolane as solvent was discussed. The experimental LLE data were correlated by non-random two liquid equation. A proposal of extraction process with this IL as solvent is simulated by conventional software and the results are shown. (C) 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 56: 381-386, 2010