Liquid-liquid equilibrium for eight ternary systems involving one hydrocarbon (from a series involving aliphatics n-hexane, n-heptane, i-octane or aromatics toluene) one solute (thiophene or pyridine) and an ionic liquid (IL 1-benzyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) was experimentally measured at atmospheric pressure and 25 degrees C. Equilibrium data are presented qualitatively, with solubility curves and quantitatively, with tie lines. The appropriateness of IL for extractive desulfurization, denitrification and dearomatization was evaluated with respect to solute distribution ratio, selectivity and efficiency of IL. Extraction experiments with seven-component systems model solutions and real refinery FCC gasoline have been performed. The equilibrium data were used for the calculation of interaction parameters of NRTL and UNIQUAC activity coefficient models. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.