Experimental and modelled thermophysical behaviour of methyl levulinate (methyl 4-oxopentanoate) and n-alkanol systems

Abstract

Herein, the densities, speeds of sound, refractive indices, and excess molar enthalpies of the binary mixtures comprising methyl levulinate (methyl 4-oxopentanoate) and n-alkanols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol) are reported at three temperatures (283.15, 298.15, and 313.15 K) and atmospheric pressure (p = 0.1 MPa). The corresponding excess properties are calculated and correlated to composition using the Redlich–Kister equation. Excess molar volume changes from negative for methanol and ethanol to positive values for 1-propanol and 1-butanol, while excess refractive index shows the opposite trend. Excess isentropic compressibility is negative for all four systems, whereas excess molar enthalpy is positive for all systems. The effect of the hydrocarbon chain length of the n-alkanols on the thermophysical behaviour of these systems is clarified. Furthermore, the volumetric and calorimetric data are modelled using pc-SAFT EOS.