Reactive Extraction of Oxoethanoic Acid (Glyoxylic Acid) Using Amberlite-LA2 in Different Diluents

An equilibrium distribution study of oxoethanoic acid (also known as glyoxylic acid, 0.93 kmol.m(-3)) between water and Amberlite-LA2 (0.24 to 1.67 kmol.m(-3)) is carried out at constant temperature, 298 +/- 0.5 K. The extract phase is prepared using Amberlite-LA2 as extractant, and hexane, kerosene, methylbenzene (toluene), butane-2-one (methyl ethyl ketone, MEK), 2,6 dimethyl-4-heptanone (diisobutylketone, DIBK), hexane-2-one, and decane-1-ol as diluents. The equilibrium data are presented by calculating parameters like loading factor, Z, extraction efficiency, %E, and distribution coefficients, K-D. The highest value of K-D is found to be 92 at higher concentration (1.67 kmol.m(-3)) of Amberlite-LA2 in hexane-2-one. The extraction ability of Amberlite-LA2 in different diluents in terms of K-D and % E is found to be in the order of hexane-2-one > methylbenzene > hexane > kerosene > DIBK > MEK > decane-1-ol. The values of stoichiometric coefficient (m) and equilibrium complexation constants (K-E, K-11, K-21 and K-12) are determined from the mass action law and using experimental data. From the values of m, it proposed that the interaction between acid and amine molecule is mostly by 1:1 type but the values of m less than 1 indicate possible formation of 1:2 type complex and diluents also extract some acid molecule by physical extraction. The values of m greater than 1 point out the formation of little amount of 2:1 type complex in the organic phase.