(Liquid plus liquid) equilibrium of aqueous biphasic systems composed of 1-benzyl or 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquids and inorganic salts

(Liquid + liquid) equilibria for {1-benzyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BzMIM]Cl) or 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([HMIM]Cl) + inorganic salts (potassium phosphate K3PO4, potassium carbonate K2CO3, or dipotassium hydrogen phosphate K2HPO4) + H2O} aqueous biphasic systems (ABSs) are presented at T = 298.15 K. An empirical equation was used to correlate the binodal data. The experimental tie lines were appropriately correlated by the Othmer-Tobias and Brancroft empirical equations. The influence of the selected inorganic salts in the phase segregation was investigated by means the calculated effective excluded volume (EEV) and Setschenow-type equation. The salting-out ability of salts was also evaluated in terms of the Gibbs energy of hydration of salt (DGhyd) and assessed with EEV values. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.