Binodal data for ethanol, 2-propanol and 1-propanol + magnesium sulfate/zinc sulfate + water systems were experimentally determined at (303.15 and 313.15)K, respectively. An empirical equation was used to correlate binodal data. The liquid-liquid equilibrium data for part of the investigated systems were obtained via the MATLAB. In order to evaluate the dependability of the calculation method and the tie-line data, the liquid-liquid equilibrium data were correlated by the Othmer-Tobias and Bancroft equations. The salting-out abilities of the investigated salts and the phase-forming abilities of the investigated hydrophilic alcohols were discussed by the effective excluded volume (EEV) of salt. The salting-out abilities of the investigated salts follow the order ZnSO4 > MgSO4, which can be indicated by the location of the binodal curves plotted in molality and the salting-out coefficient. In addition, the phase-forming abilities of the investigated hydrophilic alcohols follow the order: 1-propanol > 2-propanol > ethanol. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.