Solvent properties, solvation power and selectivity, are calculated for dipropylene glycol (DPG). Additionally, the performances realized by DPG in extraction columns were evaluated by simulating in PRO/II software the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbon from a fraction of Catalytic Reforming naphtha based on the binary interaction parameters obtained from liquid-liquid and vapor-liquid equilibrium experimental data for the binary mixtures of DPG with representative aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons with six up to eight carbon atoms, as determined in previous works. The simulation of the extraction columns was achieved for different operating conditions: solvent mass ratios from 1:1 up to 4:1 and different numbers of theoretical trays in simple columns, solvent mass ratios from 1:1 up to 4:1 and different reflux ratios in columns operated with reflux of extract, and in columns operated with reflux of raffinate. The results show that DPG has a good solvation power, and its utilization in extraction ensures a pure raffinate is obtained. (C) 2015 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.