Activity coefficients at infinite dilution of organic solutes in 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate and influence of interfacial adsorption using gas–liquid chromatography

•Activity coefficients at infinite dilution of organic solutes in [HMIM][TFA] were determined.•The contribution of interfacial adsorption to the retention mechanism was estimated.•The partial molar excess enthalpies and the solubility parameters of [HMIM][TFA] were calculated.

Activity coefficients at infinite dilution for a series of organic solutes in the ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate ([HMIM][TFA]) have been determined by gas–liquid chromatography at the temperature range from (303.15 to 363.15) K. The contribution of interfacial adsorption to the retention mechanism was estimated by changing the loading of ionic liquid in stationary phase. The partial molar excess enthalpies at infinite dilution and the solubility parameters of ionic liquid were also calculated from the experimental values of activity coefficients at infinite dilution.