Separation of 1,3-dioxolane from its azeotropic aqueous solution by using Good's buffer ionic liquid [TMA][EPPS]

• LLE and SLLE data were measured for 1,3-dioxolane/water/[TMA][EPPS] at 298.15 K.
• The LLE tie-line data were checked with Othmer–Tobias correlation.
• The experimental LLE and SLLE data well correlated with the NRTL model.
• [TMA][EPPS] is useful for separation of 1,3-dioxolane from aqueous solution.
• A conceptual flowsheet of this new separation process is proposed.

It was found that the presence of Good's buffer ionic liquid (GBIL), [TMA][EPPS], in 1,3-dioxolane aqueous solution could induce liquid–liquid phase splitting. The influence of this GBIL on the separation of 1,3–dioxolane from its aqueous solution was studied by measuring solid–liquid–liquid equilibrium (SLLE) and liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) tie-line data for 1,3-dioxalane + water + [TMA][EPPS] at 298.15 K and 101.3 kPa. The LLE phase boundary data were well correlated with an empirical equation and the effective excluded volume (EEV) model, respectively. The LLE tie-line data were also correlated quantitatively with the NRTL model and their consistency was confirmed by correlating these data with the Othmer–Tobias model. The experimental results revealed that [TMA][EPPS] can be used as an auxiliary agent to recover high purity 1,3-dioxolane from its azeotropic aqueous solution. A greener separation process is proposed. In comparison with the conventional inorganic salts, this new GBIL is a biocompatible, non-corrosive, and green chemical compound.