The performance of three kinds of hydrophobic ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophos phate [Bmim][PF6], 1-butyl-3-ethylimidazolium hexafluorophos phate [Beim][PF6] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl] imide [Bmim][Tf2N], on extraction of aromatic compounds such as aniline and phenol derivatives from aqueous solution was investigated, aniline was primarily chosen as representative to optimize the extraction process, and the regeneration of [Bmim][PF6] was studied emphatically. The results showed that IL had good ability in the extraction with the partition coefficient as high as 34.1 when [Bmim][PF6] and aniline aqueous solution was mixed with the phase ratio of 0.2 and stirring for 10 min at 25℃. The partition coefficient was higher than the normal organic solvent such as toluene and 1-octanol. Molecular structure of aromatic compounds was found to have a great influence on the extraction. Due to the increase of the hydrophobicity of solute, the partition coefficient of aromatic compounds was increased. When diethyl ether was used as stripping agent, the recovery rate of aniline and IL was 93.1% and 95.2%, respectively. Both of aniline and IL could be recycled.