Effect of Temperature and Initial Acid Concentration on the Reactive Extraction of Carboxylic Acids

Abstract

Temperature effect and initial acid concentration are significant factors of study on the reactive extraction process. Both the effect of temperature and of initial acid concentration on the extraction of levulinic acid and malic acid have been studied and compared to each other. Extractions have been carried out at the temperatures 298 K, 318 K, and 328 K. The results showed that an increase in temperature reduced distribution coefficients for all solvents used as the organic phase. The enthalpy and entropy of reaction have been calculated. Reactive extraction of these acids by amines resulted in negative values of enthalpy. Thus, the reactive extraction process is an exothermic process. Different initial concentrations of both acids have been studied in the range of 0.08 wt % to 0.15 wt %. For all solvents in organic phase the distribution coefficients decreased with increasing initial concentration of acids.