Liquid–liquid equilibria of water + lactic acid + methyl isobutyl ketone

Experimental liquid–liquid equilibria of the ternary system of water + lactic acid + methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) were studied at T = (298.15, 303.15 and 308.15) K under atmospheric conditions. Complete phase diagrams were obtained by determining solubility and tie-line data. The ternary system exhibits type-1 behavior of LLE. The reliability of the experimental tie-line data was ascertained by using both Hand and Othmer–Tobias correlations. The UNIFAC group contribution method was used to predict the observed ternary liquid–liquid equilibrium data. Distribution coefficients and separation factors were evaluated to evaluate the extracting capability of the solvent. Separation factors were more than unity and the UNIFAC prediction was satisfactory.