Demand of pyruvic acid is increasing many fold due to its multifarious applications in the food, agro, and chemical industries. Pyruvic acid production through biotechnological methods has emerged as efficient, low cost, and sustainable technology with few challenges at downstream stage (separation and purification). Reactive extraction is gaining attention over other existing method of separation of carboxylic acids from fermentation broth due to its various peculiar advantages like energy efficiency, high yield and selectivity, low cost, and environmental friendliness. In this context, reactive extraction of pyruvic acid (0.03 kmol.m(3) to 0.4 kmol.m(3)) using tri-n-octylamine (TOA, 0.114 to 0.343 kmol.m(3)) as an extractant and decanol and kerosene as a diluents has been studied at T = 303 K +/- 1 K. The extraction efficiency using only diluent was found inferior to extractantdiluent system. Physical equilibria were interpreted in terms of partition factor (Psi) and dimerization factor (F).Chemical equilibrium was treated according to mass action model and results are presented in terms of distribution coefficient (DC), loading factor (Lr), and percent extraction (% eta). Estimation of equilibrium complexation constant (beta e(x,y)) and complex stoichiometry (x:y) was ascertained by following two different methods. For (TOA + decanol) system, both (1:1) and (2:1) type acid:amine complex was proposed, whereas only (1:1) type was with (TOA + kerosene). Extraction equilibrium complexation constant for (1:1) acid:amine complex were evaluated to 133.90 m(3).kmol(1) and 5.51 m(3).kmol(1) for (TOA + decanol) and (TOA + kerosene) extraction system, respectively. Effect of temperature (303 K to 343 K) on the extraction was also visualized, wherein extraction decreases on increasing temperature. Enthalpy change (?H) for the extraction of pyruvic acid using (TOA + decanol) and (TOA + kerosene) are estimated to be -21.92 kJ.mol(1) and -10.57 kJ.mol(1), respectively. Change in free energy (Delta G) and change in entropy (Delta S) was also computed. Up to 98 % pyruvic acid (0.05 kmol.m(-3)) could be recovered using tri-n-octylamine (0.343 kmol.m(3)) in decanol. (TOA + decanol) is found to be a better extraction system than (TOA +kerosene) for separation of pyruvic acid. Results obtained could be utilized for design of extractor.