Solid−liquid phase equilibrium and mixing properties of 2-Cyano-4′-methylbiphenyl in pure solvents

• Solubility of 2-Cyano-4′-methylbiphenyl in eight pure solvents were determined by using UV spectrometer method.
• The experimental solubility data of 2-Cyano-4′-methylbiphenyl were correlated and analyzed by three thermodynamic models.
• Mixing thermodynamic properties of 2-Cyano-4′-methylbiphenyl were calculated and discussed.

Solid–liquid equilibrium data of 2-Cyano-4′-methylbiphenyl (OTBN) are essential for the design and optimization of its production process. In this work, the solubility data of OTBN in pure solvents including 2-propanol, (R)-(−)-2-butanol (2-butanol, for short), methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, acetone and acetonitrile were determined in different temperature ranges from (268.05 to 303.25) K by using UV spectrometer method under atmospheric pressure. It was found that the order of OTBN solubility in these selected pure solvents at given temperature is acetone > methyl acetate > ethyl acetate > propyl acetate > butyl acetate > 2-butanol > 2-propanol and methyl acetate > acetonitrile > 2-butanol. In the temperature range investigated, the solubility data of OTBN increase with the increasing of temperature in all eight solvents. Furthermore, the modified Apelblat equation, the Wilson model and the NRTL model were applied to correlate the experimental solubility data. The correlated results are consistent with the experimental results. Finally, the mixing thermodynamic properties of OTBN in different solvents were calculated and analyzed based on the experimental solubility data and the Wilson model.