The extraction behavior of metal ions (Hg2+ and Cd2+, M2+) was investigated in ionic liquid (IL) extraction system using 1-butyl-3-methyl- imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid ([Bmim]PF6) as extraction solvent and 8-hydroxyl-quinoline (HQ) as extractant. The extraction percentage of M2+ using [Bmim]PF6 was less than 5% without HQ. When sufficient HQ was included in IL phase, the extraction percentage of M2+ could be higher than 98%. The extracted species in the M2+-[Bmim]PF6-HQ system was neutral MQ2 and the recovery of M2+ extracted into [Bmim]PF6 can be achieved using 0.25 mol•L-1 HNO3 as stripping agent. [Bmim]PF6 can be recycled in the experiment.