The extraction of tartaric acid with Alamine 336 which is a mixture of tertiary amines (C-8-C-10) dissolved in five single solvents (cyclohexane, hexane, toluene, methyl isobutyl ketone, butan-1-ol) and three binary solvent mixtures (MIBK + toluene (50%, v/v), MIBK + hexane (50%, v/v), hexane + toluene (50%, v/v)) were investigated. All measurements were carried out at 298.15 K The extent to which the organic phase may be loaded with tartaric acid is expressed as a loading ratio, Z, extraction efficiency E and overall particular distribution coefficients D were calculated. Equilibrium complexation constants for (acid:amine) (1: 1), (1:2) and (2:3) have been determined. The maximum removal of tartaric acid is mass 97.983% with methyl isobutyl ketone with a 1.736 mol dm(-3) initial concentration of Alamine 336. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.