Distribution of phenolic solutes between water and polar organic solvents

Abstract

Distribution coefficients at high dilution are reported at 298.15 K for phenol, m-cresol, 3,4-xylenol, pyrocatechol, resorcinol, and o-chlorophenol between water and butyl acetate or methyl isobutyl ketone. The effect of mass fraction of solute on the distribution coefficient of phenol was measured at 298.15 and 318.15 K in butyl acetate and at 298.15 K in methyl isobutyl ketone and in isopropyl ether. Similar measurements in butyl acetate at 298.15 K were made for resorcinol. In addition, distribution coefficients were measured for the organic solvents in the presence of phenolic solute. Thermodynamic analysis of the results is based on the theory of associated solutions. In highly polar organic solvents the distribution coefficient of phenolic solute falls with rising mass fraction of solute; however, the opposite trend prevails when the solvent is a hydrocarbon. The results of this work may be useful for the design of extraction processes for water-pollution abatement or for solute recovery.