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The solubility of hydrophobic aromatic chemicals in organic solvent/water mixtures

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6290508

The influence of dissolved organic solvents on the aqueous phase solubility of hydrophobic aromatic chemicals was investigated. To provide a basis for a comprehensive evaluation of the importance of cosolvent properties on solubility, the effects of several different organic cosolvents on the solubility of a model hydrophobic solute, naphthalene, were determined. Naphthalene solubility was measured in binary, ternary, and quaternary alcohol/water (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol) mixtures, binary ketone/water (acetone, methylethylketone, diethylketone), and aromatic organic solvent/water (benzene, toluene) mixtures. The solubility data were statistically evaluated and used to obtain an estimate of the overall accuracy of solubility measurements of hydrophobic chemicals in organic solvent/water mixtures. An accurate data base for mixed solvent solubility was established by combining the solubility data with additional solubility data obtained experimentally and from the literature. Thermodynamic models for predicting solubility in organic solvent/water mixtures were tested against the experimental data. The effects of organic cosolvent properties and solute hydrophobicity on solubility behavior and model predictive capability were evaluated. The results were used to evaluate the accuracy of existing models for predicting solubility and to explore possible molecular interactions in organic solvent/water mixtures.

Research Organization:
Wisconsin Univ., Madison, WI (USA)
OSTI ID:
6290508
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English