Owing to its chemical and pharmacological significances, the efficacy of reactive separation of protocatechuic acid (0.001?0.01?kmol m(?3)) from aqueous stream by means of tri-n-octylamine (TOA), di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as well as tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) in octanol has been investigated, in terms of extraction efficiency, loading ratio, equilibrium complexation constants, and distribution coefficients. Extraction ability was obtained in the order TOA (91.2%)?>?TBP (88.64%)?>?D2EHPA (86.43%). In all cases, 1:1 protocatechuic acid:extractant complex is obtained. Further, diffusion coefficients, number of stages for extraction systems, and relative basicity model were used for relating the efficacy.