Low-temperature liquid–liquid extraction of phenols from aqueous solutions with hydrophilic mixtures of extractants

Abstract

The volume ratios in acetonitrile–ethyl acetate (90 : 10, 95 : 5), acetonitrile–isopropanol–ethyl acetate (70 : 15 : 15, 80 : 5 : 15), and isopropanol–1-butanol (50 : 50) mixtures were determined. Their mixing with water (1 : 1) and storage at–10°C led to partitioning into two immiscible liquid phases without formation of the ice phase. The mixtures were shown to be useful as hydrophilic extractants in low-temperature liquidliquid extraction of phenol from aqueous solutions.