Separation of ethanol from a 2-butanone/ethanol mixture using choline chloride based deep eutectic solvents

At 323.2 K the liquid-liquid equilibria (LLE) of a ternary system of ethanol, 2-butanone, and choline chloride based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were experimentally determined under atmospheric pressure. The LLE of the same ternary system was also obtained at 303.2 K to investigate the effect of temperature on ethanol separation. In almost all cases no DESs were detected in the raffinate phase. In addition, the values of the distribution coefficient of ethanol in the presence of the applied DESs were higher than those with glycerol at 303.2 K. This could afford a significant advantage because a higher distribution coefficient of ethanol requires a smaller amount of solvent in ethanol separation. The experimental LLE data were correlated using a non-random two-liquid model.