I have been researching about extractive distillation to purify ethanol. I have use only liquid solvents. However, some works have used salts. In your experience, is there any advantage in using salts? Thank you.
The salts can be anhydrous that takes up moisture from ethanol-water azeotrope while the salt remains hydrated at distillation temperature,or if room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL)are used, probably it creates a ternary mixture to do the same or creates a solution from which electrically conductive RTIL-water mixture can be separated from non-conductive ethanol. for ethanol mixed with other organic solvent, I am less certain, but the salt might probably have to do with polarity of ethanol (of course, some ionic salts can attain covalent behaviour, as from Fajan's Rule)
- Badges
- Science topic