Thermodynamics of mixtures containing alkoxyethanols. XXVIII: Liquid–liquid equilibria for 2-phenoxyethanol + selected alkanes

The coexistence curves of the liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE) for systems of 2-phenoxyethanol (2PhEE) with heptane, octane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane or ethylcyclohexane have been determined by the method of the critical opalescence using a laser scattering technique. All the curves show an upper critical solution temperature (UCST), have a rather horizontal top and their symmetry depends on the relative size of the mixture compounds. UCST values are higher for systems with linear alkanes than for solutions including cyclic alkanes. For these mixtures, the UCST increases with the size of the alkyl group attached to the cyclic part of the molecule. It is shown that interactions between alkoxyethanol molecules are stronger when the hydroxyether contains an aromatic group. Data are used to determine the critical exponent for the order parameter mole fraction. Values obtained are consistent with those provided by the Ising model or by the renormalization group theory.

► LLE coexistence curves were determined for mixtures of 2PhEE with alkanes.
► UCST values are higher for n-alkane systems than for solutions with cyclic alkanes.
► For the latter mixtures, UCST increases with the size of the alkyl group attached.
► Alkoxyethanol–alkoxyethanol interactions are enhanced by aromatic group in cellosolve.