Effect of uni-univalent salts on the mass transfer of isobutyric acid between cumene and water

Effect of NaCl and KCl salts on single drop hydrodynamic and mass transfer of isobutyric acid from aqueous to cumene phases was studied. Drop size, extraction fraction and mass transfer coefficient were decreased as a consequence of isobutyrate ion adsorption which is quite obvious from interfacial tension variations. Both the used salts caused similar trends in variations; however, KCl was to some extent more efficient. These were while solute equilibrium distribution coefficient was shifted toward higher values. Using the combined mass transfer model, accompanied with a derived empirical correlation exhibited a nice agreement, with relative deviation values mostly within ±13.6%.