The distribution of branched octanols between dodecane and water

Abstract

The distribution of four branched chain octanols, 3-ethyl-3-hexanol, 4-ethyl-3-hexanol, 2-ethyl-4-methylpentanol, and 4-octanol, has been measured between dodecane and water. Measurements were made at alcohol concentrations in the dodecane of less than 0.1 mol/dm3, and as a function of temperature from 10 °C to 35 °C. From these distribution data, standard thermodynamic functions for transfer were calculated. Standard Gibbs energies of transfer from water to dodecane at 25 °C were in the range −14.1 to −15.1 kJ/mol, whereas the standard enthalpies of transfer at 25 °C varied from 29 to 39 kJ/mol. Thus, the change in the standard enthalpy tends to inhibit transfer, but a large standard entropy of transfer results in dodecane being the favoured phase.