Effect of calcium chloride on the liquid-liquid equilibria of the water-acetone system

Liquid-liquid phase equilibrium is mainly a result of intermolecular forces. Therefore hydroxylic compounds very often show a good affinity with water, due to hydrogen bonding. Consequently the ionic forces taking place when salt is added to an aqueous solution may affect this phase equilibrium. This is the main scope of this study, considering this salt effect. The effect of the addition of calcium chloride (CaCl2) on the liquid-liquid equilibrium data of the binary system water-acetone has been studied experimentally at 23°C, for different salt weight percentages of 5, 10, 15 and 20. A two- phase region has been created, decreasing the acetone solubility in water. From this study it can be concluded that ‘salting-out’ takes place with the presence of calcium chloride.