Measurements and correlation at different temperatures of liquid–liquid equilibria of 2-butanol or 2-methyl-2-butanol + 1,2,3-propanetriol + water ternary systems

• 2-Methyl-2-butanol/2-butanol + 1,2,3-propanetriol (glycerol) + water systems were studied.
• Liquid–liquid equilibria data and temperature influence on both systems was shown.
• The NRTL and UNIQUAC models were applied to fit the data for both ternary systems.
• The binodal lines were compared to the prediction due by UNIFAC-LLE and UNIFAC models.
• The capability of alcohols as solvents was studied.

In this work, the experimental liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE) data of 2-methyl-2-butanol + 1,2,3-propanetriol (glycerol) + water and 2-butanol + 1,2,3-propanetriol (glycerol) + water systems at different temperatures are presented. The LLE of the systems has been measured between 283 and 323 K. The NRTL and UNIQUAC models were applied to the ternary systems. The interaction parameters obtained from both models successfully correlated the equilibrium compositions. The experimental tie lines were compared to the values predicted by the UNIFAC method. Finally, the solvent capability of both alcohols was checked in order to separate the mixture formed by glycerol and water.