Insights into alkyl lactate + water mixed fluids

The properties and nanoscopic structure of alkyl lactate + water binary mixtures were studied at 298.15 K in the whole composition range. Thermophysical measurements and spectroscopic studies allowed analysing the characteristics of intermolecular forces, hydrogen bonding, together with structural effects upon mixing as a function of mixture composition. The role developed by the bifunctional character of alkyl lactate molecules on the development of homo and heteroassociations is studied and its effect on the relationship between macro and microscopic fluid properties.