Kinetics data is important for the reliable scale-up of a lab-scale process and for selection, design and operation of related equipment. This paper reports on the kinetics study for reactive extraction of hydroxy-(2-methyl-phenyl)acetic acid (HA) enantiomers by hydroxypropy1-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) from the organic phase to the aqueous phase. The theory of extraction with chemical reaction was used. The effects of agitation speed, interfacial area, pH value of aqueous phase, initial concentration of HA enantiomers and initial concentration of extractant on the specific rate of extraction were investigated. The reactions have been found to be first order in HA and second order in HP-beta-CD with the forward rate constants of 4.873 x 10(-4)m(6)/(mol(2) s) for R-HA and 4.343 x 10(-4) m(6)/(mol(2) s) for S-HA, respectively. (C) 2012 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.