Micellar aqueous two-phase systems
(ATPSs) find prominent applications
in the extraction of hydrophobic solutes owing to their low interfacial
tension. In this study, we investigated the liquid–liquid equilibrium
(298.15 T/K and 101.325 P/kPa) and phase-forming abilities of organic
(trisodium-citrate dihydrate and potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate)
and inorganic (ammonium sulfate and ammonium phosphate dibasic) salts
with an amphiphilic surfactant, Triton X-100. The experimental binodal
curves for four micellar ATPSs were determined employing the cloud
point method, and tie-line compositions were calculated using the
gravimetric approach. The experimentally determined equilibrium data
were thermodynamically correlated using effective excluded volume
theory. For tie-line data accuracy, the Othmer–Tobias and Bancroft
equations were used, and the corresponding correlation coefficients
were reported. The phase separation ability of organic and inorganic
salts was analyzed by using the Hofmeister series. Furthermore, we
explored the effectiveness of micellar ATPSs in extracting hazardous
pollutants from the textile industry, Rhodamine B (RB) and Chromium(VI)
(Cr6+). Extraction experiments showed RB partitioning almost
entirely (%E ∼ 99%) into a surfactant-rich
phase, and ammonium sulfate-based ATPSs offered the highest extraction
for the Cr6+ metal ion (% E = 81%). This
study showcases the cost-effective way for the extraction of harmful
hydrophobic industrial pollutants.