The present work focuses on the application
of a deep eutectic
solvent (DES) to the separation of liquid mixtures. Experimental activity
coefficients at infinite dilution γ13
∞ of 23 organic solutes in tetrapropylammonium
bromide +1,6-hexanediol DES were measured by gas–liquid chromatography
(GLC) at four temperatures ranging from (313.15 to 343.15) K and atmospheric
pressure. The hydrogen bond acceptor-to-hydrogen bond donour molar
ratio was 1:2. The effect of molecular structure on the values of
γ13
∞ was also examined. From experimental limiting activity coefficients,
values of partial molar excess enthalpy at infinite dilution (ΔH
i
E,∞) were obtained using
the Gibbs–Helmholtz equation over the same temperature range.
Furthermore, infinite dilution selectivity (S
ij,s
∞) and capacity (k
j,s
∞) for various practical separation problems
were calculated from experimental γ13
∞ and were compared with those
of previously investigated ionic liquids and popular industrial solvents.
It was observed that the investigated deep eutectic solvent would
be an effective separation agent for mixtures of alkanes and thiophene
or pyridine, as well as those involving alcohols and cycloalkanes
or aromatics or ketones.