This paper presents a comprehensive study on the effect of citric acid, sod
ium benzoate, sodium salicylate and urea (hydrotropes) on the solubility an
d mass transfer coefficient for the extraction of amyl acetate in water. Th
e influence of a wide range of hydrotrope concentration (0-3.0 mol/l) and d
ifferent temperatures (303-333 K) on the solubility of amyl acetate has bee
n studied. The influence of different hydrotrope concentrations on the mass
transfer coefficients for amyl acetate-water system has been ascertained.
Setschenow constant, K-s, a measure of the effectiveness of hydrotrope has
been determined for each case. The solubility of amyl acetate increases wit
h increase in hydrotrope concentration and also with system temperature. Co
nsequent to the increase in the solubility of amyl acetate, the mass transf
er coefficient was also found to increase with increase in hydrotrope conce
ntration. A Minimum Hydrotropic Concentration (MHC) was found essential to
show a significant increase in the solubility and mass transfer coefficient
for amyl acetate-water system. The enhancement factor, which is the ratio
of value in presence and absence of a hydrotrope is reported for both solub
ility and mass transfer coefficients.