Ion-pair extraction of boric acid with salicyl alcohol (H 2 sal) has been studied using several organic cations such as trioctylmethylammonium chloride (TOMACl), tetrahexylammonium bromide (Hex 4 NBr), and tetraphenylphosphonium bromide (Ph 4 PBr) in various solvents. The extractability of boric acid was strongly dependent on the organic cations and solvents used and decreased in the order TOMACl > Hex 4 NBr >> Ph 4 PBr in almost all solvents for which the order was o-dichlorobenzene ≥ chlorobenzene > toluene > 1,2-dichloroethane > hexane > chloroform > methyl isobutyl ketone for TOMACl. The extracted species was found to be TOMA + B(sal) 2 -in toluene from equilibrium analysis.