Measurement and correlation of phase equilibria in aqueous two-phase systems containing ionic liquid ([EOMiM]Br) and potassium citrate/ammonium citrate/potassium tartrate at different temperatures

An aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) containing an ionic liquid (1-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide) and three organic salts (K3C6H5O7, (NH4)3C6H5O7, and K2C4H4O6) at different temperatures was designed. Binodal data were correlated using two empirical equations, and tie-line data were fit with the utilization of Bancroft and Othmer-Tobias equations. In the systems investigated, three conclusions were drawn from the study of the phase-forming ability of salt through effective excluded volume, Gibbs free energy of ions, and the phase diagram. First, if the same cations of salt were present, the ability of salt to form phases increased with increasing valence of the anion. Second, the larger the effective excluded volume, the stronger the aforementioned ability of salt in forming phases. Third, salt had more ability to form phases if cations (or anions) contained in the salt possessed higher negative Gibbs free energy when the cation (anion) of the salt was the same. The effect of temperature on ATPSs was also investigated. It was found that it was easier to form ATPSs at lower temperature, and the tie-line slope showed growing absolute values as the temperature was decreased.