Liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) data for the ternary system 2-methoxy-2-methylpropane (methyl tert-butyl ether) + p-cresol + water was measured at atmospheric pressure and temperatures of 298.15 K and 313.15 K. From the distribution coefficients and selectivity, it was found that 2-methoxy-2-methylpropane is an efficient solvent to extract p-cresol from waste water. The consistency of the experimental tie-line data was verified with the Hand and Bachman equations. These data were also correlated with the non-random two liquid (NRTL) and universal quasi-chemical correlation activity coefficient (UNIQUAC) models to yield binary interaction parameters for p-cresol extraction process evaluation. Both models agreed with experiments very well, yet the NRTL model showed even smaller average deviation than the UNIQUAC model. (c) 2015 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.