Equilibrium Studies of Extraction of Levulinic Acid by (Trioctylamine (TOA) + Ester) Solvents

Abstract

Reactive extraction of levulinic acid has been done at 298.15 K. All experiments are reported on the extraction of levulinic acid by trioctylamine (TOA) dissolved in 11 different ester solvents (ethyl propionate, dimethyl phthalate, hexyl acetate, cyclohexyl acetate, dimethyl adipate, propyl acetate,, dimethyl glutarate, dimethyl fumarate, diethyl sebacate, and diethyl carbonate), as well as single solvents. Experimental results of batch extraction experiments are calculated and reported as distribution coefficients (KD= c̅HA/cHA,total), loading factors (TT), stoichiometric loading factor (TS), separation factor (Sf), and extraction efficiency (E). The diethyl carbonate was found to be the most effective solvent with a maximum distribution value of 5.75. Maximum values of possible equilibrium complexation constants for (acid + amine) (1:1) K11 and (2:1) K21 were determined as 3.32 and 32.59 for diethyl carbonate, respectively.