Extraction of toluene from alkane (hexane, heptane or octane) was studied with the ionic liquid 1-butyl 3-methylimidazolium nitrate ([Bmim][NO3]) or 1-methyl 3-octylimidazolium nitrate ([Omim][NO3]) at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. The liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) data for ternary systems of toluene + alkane + ionic liquid were measured and the selectivity values were calculated. The consistency of the experimental data was examined, using the Othmer-Tobias and Hand equations. The selectivity values for the ternary systems with [Bmim][NO3] is more than[Omim][NO3]. The experimental data were correlated with the NRTL thermodynamic model. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.