A green hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent for extraction of phenol from aqueous phase

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), have been recognized as effective materials for the extraction of different compounds. In this study, the performance of a novel hydrophobic DES was evaluated for the extraction of phenol from aqueous solutions. Octanoic and dodecanoic fatty acid precursors with a definite molar ratio of 3:1, respectively, were used for the DES having a low melting point of 8.3 degrees C. The purity and stability of the product were confirmed via characterizing by FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR methods. The liquid-liquid equilibrium of the water + phenol + DES ternary system at different temperatures of 293.2, 298.2 and 308.2 K was accordingly studied through cloud point titration method and refractive index measurement. Interestingly, the important parameters of the solute distribution coefficient and the separation factor were, respectively, within the high levels of (6.8321-9.7787) and (895.76-2770.17), indicating the amazing capability of the DES. Reasonably, both of these parameters decreased with temperature. The NRTL and UNIQUAC thermodynamic models were employed to reproduce the obtained tie-lines and to determine the interaction parameters at each temperature. The low level root mean square deviations for the mentioned models were, respectively, within (0.0014-0.0027) and (0.0045-0.0063); confirming satisfactorily agreement with the experimental data.

Automated summary

A novel hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent was evaluated for the extraction of phenol from aqueous solutions, showing excellent extraction capability with high solute distribution coefficients and separation factors. Thermodynamic models NRTL and UNIQUAC were employed to reproduce the experimental data, showing satisfactory agreement with low root mean square deviations.