Extraction Equilibria of Glycolic Acid Using Tertiary Amines: Experimental Data and Theoretical Predictions

Abstract

Extraction equilibrium of glycolic acid (1.5 mol.kg(-1)) from aqueous solutions has been carried out using a solvent/extractant consisting of 50 vol % trioctylamine (TOA) and 50 vol % tridodecylamine (TDA) in the concentration range of 0.194 mol.kg(-1) to 1.163 mol.kg(-1). The extract phase is diluted with dimethyl phthalate (DMP), methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), 2-octanone, 1-decanol, and cydohexylacetate (CHA). The data are represented by calculating distribution coefficients (D), loading factors (Z), and extraction efficiencies (% E) using experimental values. The highest value of D for the glycolic acid extraction is found to be 4.44 for DMP, 4.09 for MIRK, 3.78 for 2-octanone, 3.51 for 1-decanol, and 2.71 for CHA. A substantial amount (73.05 % to 81.61 %) of glycolic acid is recovered by all the amine-diluent systems and at 1.163 mol.kg(-1) initial concentration of (TOA + TDA) mixture.