Extraction of Phenol by Toluene in the Presence of Sodium Hydroxide

Abstract

Phenol is a good model compound to study extraction of alkaloids as its acidity constant is close to that of many alkaloids, for example, morphine. In addition, extraction of phenol is important environmentally as it is a water pollutant. In this study the distribution ratio of neutral phenol and total phenol between water and toluene with varying pH and varying concentration of sodium hydroxide is determined and discussed. The phase equilibrium is modelled by the symmetric electrolyte nonrandom two-liquid model and the calculated values agree well with the experimental results.