Ionic liquids (ILs) functionalized solvent impregnated resins (SIRs) were prepared using IL modified Merrified resin as the polymeric supports by impregnation of extractant for extraction of Sc(III). The ILs modified Merrifield resin were prepared via covalent anchoring of imidazolium salts onto Merrifield resin. The polymeric supports with imidazolium chloride group (RCl) and imidazolium hexafluorophosphate group (RPF(6)) were characterized by FTIR, TGA, and elemental analysis. It was found that RCl and RPF(6) had tunable hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, different acid stability, and swelling behaviors in solvents. The effect of Cyanex 923 extractant or [C(8)mim][PF(6)] IL impregnated on RCl and RPF(6) were studied. The results showed Cyanex 923 and [C(8)mim][PF(6)] exhibited stronger affinity to RPF(6) than to RCl. RPF(6) with Cyanex 923 was found to be effective in Sc(III) extraction. The extraction mechanisms of SIRs containing RPF(6) and Cyanex 923 with or without [C(8)mim][PF(6)] were cation exchange and neutral complexation, respectively. [C(8)mim][PF(6)] acted as an extraction media and was involved in the cation exchanged extraction reaction. Sc(III) can be selectively separated from Tm(III), Yb(III), and Lu(III) by the SIRs. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 3284-3290, 2011