The intermolecular interactions of ferulic acid (FA),
a promising
cancer-preventive agent, in mixed aqueous alcohol solutions were investigated
using volumetric, viscometric, and refractive index approaches. The
density and viscosity of aqueous ethanol/1-propanol solutions of FA
were measured at different temperatures (293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15,
and 313.15 K) under atmospheric pressure using a digital liquid densimeter
and an automatic rolling-ball microviscometer, respectively. The refractive
index of aqueous ethanol/1-propanol solutions of FA was measured at
298.15 K using a refractometer. The apparent molar volumes and limiting
partial molar volumes were calculated from the measured solution density
values. The viscosity B-coefficients and their variation
with temperature, that is, dB/dT, were obtained from the viscosity data. The molar refractions of
FA were calculated from the refractive index measurements. In addition,
the variation of these thermodynamic parameters with solution composition
and temperature was analyzed in the light of the solute–solvent
intermolecular interactions. The structure making/breaking ability
of FA in the studied aqueous alcohol systems was investigated by studying
the dB/dT dependence.