The
solubilities of benzothazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) [HBth][BF4], [HBth][CH3SO3], and [HBth][p-TSA] in binary ethanol + ethyl benzoate solvents were
measured using the equilibrium method with the temperature range from
233.2 to 293.7 K at atmospheric pressure. Results of these measurements
were correlated by both λh equation and the
modified Apelblat equation. It was found that both models gave satisfactory
correlation results. In the λh model, the average
relative deviations were 0.7145, 0.7845, and 0.8119% for [HBth][BF4], [HBth][CH3SO3], and [HBth][p-TSA], respectively. Interestingly, the parameters of λ
and h for the λh model and A, B, and C for the modified
Apelblat model were simultaneously expressed as functions of solvent
composition (x
sol) for the first time.
Furthermore, solubilities of these three ILs in the binary system
were predicted through these two sets of self-created correlation
equations with ideal performances. The total average relative deviations
were less than 2.2% for both models. These successful in-depth correlations
and validated prediction results have guaranteed the accuracy of experimental
solubility data and provide us a reliable method for accurate solubility
prediction at any temperature with any solvent composition. This developed
calculation method in this report lays a foundation for accurate industrial
recovery of ILs and gives us valuable guidance for the design of the
specific purification process to acquire desired purity of the product
in industrial production.