Examination of the Efficiency of Ionic Liquids in Glycolic Acid Separation from Aqueous Solution by Using Reactive Extraction Method

Abstract

In this study, the removal of glycolic acid from aqueous solutions by using reactive extraction with different organic solvents and tripropylamine mixtures was investigated. In experimental studies, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), 1-decanol, toluene, cyclohexyl acetate (CHA), DMP, and an ionic liquid compound, namely 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (IL), were chosen as the diluent solvent in the organic phase. In recent researches of chemistry, IL compounds have come to the foreground due to their superior properties and environmental friendly chemical structures and they are being used intensively. For this reason, it is particularly aimed to compare the efficiency of the IL compound with other solvents. In addition to the solvent effect, the amine concentration used was changed to determine the effect on extraction yield. Using the obtained data, the most important parameters for the design of reactive extraction processes were calculated: The distribution coefficient (D), the loading factor (Z), and the percentage of extraction efficiency (E%).