Sifting Ionic Liquids as Additives for Separation of Acetonitrile and Water Azeotropic Mixture Using the COSMO-RS Method

The phase behavior of the ternary acetonitrile + water + ionic liquid system was predicted using the COSMO-RS method. The effects of different ionic liquids on the separation of acetonitrile + water were discussed. It was found that the influence of anions [OAc](-) and [Cl](-) on the acetonitrile + water mixture is strong, while the cations have fewer effects on the mixture. The interaction energies and mixing enthalpies of binary acetonitrile + ionic liquid and water + ionic liquid systems were predicted indicating that the interaction energy between molecules is stronger in the water + ionic liquid mixture than in the acetonitrile + ionic liquid system. The excess enthalpies of binary mixtures mainly depend on the hydrogen bonds formed between water (or acetonitrile) and ionic liquids. Ionic liquids [EMIM][OAc] and [EMIM]Cl are expected to be favorable solvents and supposed to have practical applications in the separation of acetonitrile from aqueous solution.