The extraction of phenolic compounds (phenol, o-cresol, 2-chlorophenol and resorcinol) from water using the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [NTf2]-based ionic liquids (ILs): 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [PMim][NTf2], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [BMim][NTf2], and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [HMim] [NTf2] was analysed in this work. Moreover, the influence of the phenolic solution concentration, phase volume ratio V-IL:V-W, stirring and settling time, temperature, and pH on the extraction process were investigated. Finally, an IL recovery method was performed using a NaOH aqueous solution to extract the phenolic compound from the ILs. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd.