The effect of sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, sodium sulfate, zinc sulfate, and ammonium sulfate on the liquid-liquid equilibria (LLE) of mater + 4-methyl-2-pentanone + propanoic or butanoic acid at 35 degrees C has been studied. The ternary LLE data of the systems have been predicted using the NRTL equation, the parameters of which were obtained from the infinite dilution activity coefficient values. The distribution data of the salt containing ternary liquid systems have been correlated through the use of the modified Campbell equation, and the constants obtained have been used to determine the extract phase solute concentrations and also to calculate the salt effect parameter. Results based on the modified Campbell equation show the following order of effectiveness of salts for systems containing propanoic acid : Na2SO4 > ZnSO4 > NaCl > (NH4)(2)SO4 > NaNO3. And for systems with butanoic acid : (NH4)(2)SO4 > Na2SO4 > NaCl > ZnSO4 > NaNO3.