Application of [EMpy][ESO4] ionic liquid as solvent for the liquid extraction of xylenes from hexane

Liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) data for the ternary systems {hexane + o-xylene + 1-ethyl-3-methylpyridinium ethylsulfate}, {hexane + p-xylene + 1-ethyl-3-methylpyridinium ethylsulfate}, and {hexane + m-xylene + 1-ethyl-3-methylpyridinium ethylsulfate} were determined at T = 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. Selectivity, percent removal of aromatic, and solute distribution ratio, derived from the experimental equilibrium data, were used to determine if this ionic liquid can be used as a potential extracting solvent for the separation of xylenes from hexane. The consistency of tie-line data was ascertained by applying the Othmer–Tobias equation. The phase diagrams for the ternary systems are shown, and the tie-lines correlated with the NRTL model have been compared with the experimental data.