Phase
behavior of new aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) composed
by 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF4) + copper sulfate (CuSO4) + water systems were determined
experimentally at T = (283.15, 298.15, and 313.15)
K. The phase diagrams obtained at the different study temperatures
describe the liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) and, in some cases,
the liquid–liquid–solid equilibrium for different mixture
compositions. The effects of the temperature, composition, and ion
exchange in the formation of this ATPS were available. The temperature
had a remarkable effect on the position of phase diagrams. The decrease
in temperature promoted phase separation indicating the exothermic
character of formation of these ATPSs, and further, at temperatures
of 283.15 and 298.15 K it was observed that there was phase inversion
for some mixture compositions that occurred. The extent of the ionic
exchange of the original ionic pairs between the phases in equilibrium
was evaluated considering the electroneutrality of the phases. It
was observed experimentally that, in the LLE condition established,
there was no significant exchange of the ionic pairs. The ability
of different cations, from different sulfate salts, to induce the
formation of ATPSs in mixtures involving [Bmim]BF4 was
evaluated. For this, thermodynamic data of hydration of different
cations reported in the literature were used together with experimental
data of saturation solubility to establish a scale. Thermodynamic
parameters of transfer of components (cations, anions, and water)
between the phases were also calculated from the experimental data
and indicated that the material transfer of the bottom phase to the
top is not spontaneous and tends to be less spontaneous as the length
of the tie line value increases. Additionally, the equilibrium data
and binodal curves were fitted to an empirical nonlinear expression
(Merchuk equation), and the salting out effect was explored using
the type-Setschenow equation.