Effect of nonvolatile solute on vapor–liquid equilibrium at fixed liquid composition

The influence of some nonvolatile solutes on boiling points of two azeotropic mixtures (1-propanol–water and methanol–tetrahydrofuran systems) was determined by means of isobaric vapor–liquid equilibrium experiments. A basic thermodynamic equation of nonvolatile solute effect on vapor–liquid equilibrium at fixed liquid composition was derived. Based on the theoretical analysis about the equation, two criterions of universal significance were obtained: (1) when a little nonvolatile solute dissolves in a binary liquid mixture with constant composition, if the vapor composition of less volatile component is increased the boiling point must be elevated at given pressure or the vapor pressure must be depressed at given temperature; (2) when a little nonvolatile solute dissolves in an azeotropic mixture, any kind of nonvolatile solute always causes the elevation of boiling point at given pressure or the depression of vapor pressure at given temperature irrespective of the variation of vapor composition. Verifying through the experiments of this paper and lot of the relevant experimental data in the literature, all of the experimental results were in agreement with both criterions without exception.