EXTRACTION EQUILIBRIUM OF M-CRESOL BY TRI-N-OCTYLAMINE SULFATE SALTS

The influence of the extraction conditions on the distribution coeffic ient of m-cresol were investigated. The equilibria of m-cresol extract ion from an aqueous solution by the tri-n-octylamine sulfate salts (TO A salts) in an organic solvent were examined. Sulfuric acid first reac ted with tri-n-octylamine (TOA) to form TOA salts; then m-cresol was e xtracted into the organic phase from the aqueous phase by the TOA salt s. The model of the equilibrium of the chemical reaction of TOA and su lfuric acid to form the TOA salts was constructed by modifying the Wil son model (Wilson, 1967). The predictions of the developed model were fairly consistent with the experimental data, and it was applied to th e reaction systems in benzene at various temperatures to predict the e xtraction of m-cresol. The number of water molecules associated with t he various TOA salts, which reflect the extraction capability of m-cre sol, was determined.