Liquid-liquid equilibria of water plus propionic acid plus methyl butyl ketone and of water plus propionic acid plus methyl isopropyl ketone

Liquid-liquid equilibria of water + propionic acid + methyl butyl ketone (2 -hexanone) and of water + propionic acid + methyl isopropyl ketone (3-methy l-2-butanone) systems were measured at the temperatures (25, 35, and 45) de greesC. Complete phase diagrams were obtained by determining solubility and the tie-line data. The reliability of the experimental tie-line data was d etermined through the Othmer-Tobias plots. Distribution coefficients and se paration factors were evaluated over the immiscibility regions. It is concl uded that both methyl butyl ketone and methyl isopropyl ketone are suitable separating agents for dilute aqueous propionic acid.