Liquid-liquid equilibrium data are presented for mixtures of {1-hexyl-3-methylimidozolium(tetrafluoroborate or hexafluorophospate) + ethanol + (1-hexene or 1-heptene)} at T = 298.2 K. The data presented provides valuable insight into how variation of the anion of the environmentally friendly ionic liquid solvent can have a marked effect upon the separation power of ionic liquids. The sloping of the tie lines towards the ethanol vertex is observed for mixtures of {1-hexyl-3-methylimadozolium tetrafluoroborate + ethanol + (1-hexene or 1-heptene)}, whilst the reverse, i.e. sloping of the tie lines towards the ionic liquid vertex is observed for mixtures of {1-hexyl-3-methylimadozolium hexafluorophospate + ethanol + (1-hexene or 1-heptene)}. The tie line data have been correlated through the use of the NTRL model for statistical consistency. Selectivity values, derived from the tie line data, indicate that these two ionic liquids are suitable solvents for the liquid-liquid extraction of ethanol from olefins. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.