I prepared a liquid liquid extraction of an aqueous solution with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and finally n-butanol. Now, I do not observe any separation of the n-butanol phase from the aqueous phase. How can I recover the butanol phase?
thank you in advance
You could try to add salt to your solution and centrifuge. This might improve phase separation.
Yes, as suggested by Villapando earlier, addition of common salt, that is, sodium chloride (NaCl) is most likely to result in phase separation.
To achieve maximum separation, you may have to saturate the aqueous phase with NaCl.
As an alternative to addition of a solid into your liquid phase, you may try addition of saturated brine solution.
Try adding more water and salt to the mixture. Separation can be improved
Addition of ionic substances effects the phase separation by breaking the emulsions. Use of separating funnel after gentle mixing and washing with water would provide better results.
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