Extraction of toluene from alkane using [Bmim][NO3] or [Omim][NO3] ionic liquid at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure

•LLE data for ternary systems of toluene + alkane + ionic liquid were determined.•The ionic liquids [Bmim][NO3] and [Omim][NO3] were used.•The selectivities values for the ternary systems with [Bmim][NO3] are higher than [Omim][NO3].•[Bmim][NO3] is more suitable solvent for extraction of toluene than [Omim][NO3].•The NRTL model was used for correlation of the experimental data.

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.