4. Conclusions
In this study, the vapour–liquid equilibria behaviour of the binary systems dipropyl ether + 2-ethoxyethanol and 1-propyl alcohol + 2-ethoxyethanol and the ternary system dipropyl ether + 1-propyl alcohol + 2-ethoxyethanol was experimentally investigated with the aim of testing the feasibility of using 2-ethoxyethanol as an entrainer to the extractive distillation.
Consistent VLE data at 101.3 kPa have been determined all the systems. Wilson, NRTL and UNIQUAC models were capable to correlate accurately all the binary systems and yielded reasonable predictions for the ternary system. In general, for the three systems, the UNIQUAC model is more adequate for correlation of the VLE data obtained.
In order to carry out the separation of the azeotropic mixture dipropyl ether + 1-propyl alcohol by extractive distillation, we are studied the influence on the phase equilibria behavior four different solvent: 1-pentanol [2], butyl propionate [3], N,Ndimethylformamide [4] and 2-ethoxyethanol (this work). Based on the results presented in this paper, it can be concluded that N,N-dimethylformamide is the most promising entrainer.