The
production of phosphoric acid by wet processes is quite energy
consuming. The adoption of azeotropic distillation in the evaporation
process, using cyclohexane as an entrainer, may be potentially economical.
The vapor–liquid equilibria (VLE) data were determined by ebulliometric
method for the following systems at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 101.3 kPa: (1) phosphoric acid + water + ethanol;
(2) phosphoric acid + water + cyclohexane + ethanol; (3) phosphoric
acid + water + cyclohexane. The electrolyte NRTL parameters for the
following pairs were correlated from the VLE data by using Aspen Plus
as a tool: H3PO4–H2O, H+[H2PO4]−–H2O, H3PO4–C2H6O, H3PO4–C6H12, and H+[H2PO4]−–C6H12. The VLE data and the obtained
parameters may provide basic data for the enhancement of phosphoric
acid by azeotropic distillation.