Rules governing vapor-phase extraction of carboxylic acids and phenols from aqueous solutions

The influence of the molecular structure of the components to be extracted and the type of the extractant used on the effectiveness of vapor-phase extraction from water was studied for the example of low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids C-2-C-6 and phenols. Extraction parameters were found to depend on the length of the analyte molecule and its polarity. The experimental data and correlations observed substantiated the validity of the suggested mechanism of vapor-phase extraction. Changes in the Gibbs energy of extraction equilibrium as the length of the analyte molecule (in the homologous series of organic acids C-2-C-6) and molecule polarity (for the example of cresol isomers) increased were evaluated.