The recovery of solvent dissolved in wastewater from the extraction of penicillin in fermentation broth is explored using a simulating wastewater. Results show that butyl acetate can be separated partially, no matter what type of surfactant is used. The butyl acetate is evaporated from the wastewater into the gas phase, as it is highly volatile. With the concentration of surfactant at a suitable low level, the maximum separation of butyl acetate is obtained. The amount of butyl acetate volatilized to the gas phase will increase with the increase in surfactant until it reaches the maximum. The residual ratio of butyl acetate with sodium dodecyl sulfate as surfactant is higher than that with dodecylsulfonate as surfactant. Both the butyl acetate residual ratio and the enrichment concentration decrease with the increase in initial butyl acetate concentration when Tween80 is used as surfactant.