Extraction of glycolic acid from aqueous solutions by trioctyl methylammonium chloride and organic solvents

The purpose of this study is to investigate the partitioning of glycolic acid from aqueous solutions by trioctyl methylammonium chloride, also known as Aliquat 336. Extraction equilibria of glycolic acid in the solution of trioctyl methylammonium chloride in mixtures of three individual diluting solvents and two solvent mixtures at a temperature of 298.15 K have been measured. The effect of initial acid concentration on the partitioning has been investigated. The solvents were propanol, cyclohexane, isooctane, butanol, toluene, methyl isobutyl ketone, and ethyl acetate. The distribution coefficients, D, loading factors, Z, and extraction efficiencies, E, are derived. The maximum removal of glycolic acid is 49% with propanol with a 1.76 mol(.)L(-1) initial concentration of trioctyl methylammonium chloride