Lactic acid extraction from aqueous solutions with 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol by using experimental liquid-liquid equilibrium data at T=298.2K and atmospheric pressure

Liquid-Liquid equilibrium data for the (water + Lactic acid + 2-ethy-1-hexanol) ternary system were determined at T=298.2K and P=1atm and tie- lines related to the equilibrium data has been shown in the phases diagram. The reliability of the experimental tie-line data for this system was as confirmed using the Hand and the Othmer –Tobias correlations. The tie-line data were correlated by means of the UNIQUAC model for the ternary system. The average root mean square deviation between the observed and calculated mass fractions was 0.66%. The comparison of the extracting capabilities of this solvent by 1-octanol was made with respect to distribution coefficients and separation factors bases. The results show that extraction of lactic acid from aqueous solutions by 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol is possible and 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol is more appropriate than the other octanol isomer.