Application of the NRTL method to correlate solubility of diosgenin

Using the synthetic method, the solubility of diosgenin in 1-hexanol and 1-heptanol was measured at temperatures from 300 K to 329 K by a laser monitoring observation technique at atmospheric pressure. The solubility data were correlated by semi-empirical equations, such as the Apelblat equation, λh model and the ideal model, which agreed well with experimental results. The fusion enthalpy and the melting point determined by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), are −34064.2 J · mol−1 and 207.09 °C for diosgenin. With collection of over 14 solvents from different references, the NRTL thermodynamic model as one of the activity coefficient models was used to correlate and predict the solubility of diosgenin. The solubility calculated for all solvents showed good agreement with the experimental results within the temperature range studied. Additionally, the solubility of diosgenin in 14 solvents is also investigated at T = 308.15 K, the results of which indicated that solubility of diosgenin in n-alkanols tends to increase with increasing alkanol chain length from methanol to 1-heptanol and n-alkanols presented higher solubility than heterogeneous alcohols for diosgenin, such as 1-butanol > isobutyl alcohol > tert-butanol and 1-propanol > isopropanol. It also shows that solubility of diosgenin decreases with the increasing polarity of solvents. Its corresponding (solid + liquid) equilibrium data will provide essential support for industrial design and further detailed theoretical studies.