Publications
Sort:
Open Access Issue
Extraction and separation of benzene/n-hexane using a deep eutectic solvent consisting of a dicationic ionic liquid and a polyol
Journal of Beijing University of Chemical Technology (Natural Science Edition) 2025, 52(4): 10-19
Published: 20 July 2025
Abstract PDF (2.8 MB) Collect
Downloads:0

The boiling points of benzene and n-hexane are similar, and they readily form an azeotropic mixture. Current separation processes have high energy consumption and low separation efficiency. In order to efficiently separate the benzene/n-hexane system, an asymmetric dicationic ionic liquid 1-(3-(trimethylammonium)propan-1-yl)-3-methylpiperidine dibromide ([N111C3MPi]Br2) (a hydrogen bond acceptor) was synthesized. [N111C3MPi]Br2 was subsequently mixed with ethylene glycol (a hydrogen bond donor) in different proportions to prepare a deep eutectic solvent [N111C3MPi]Br2/ethylene glycol. The density and viscosity of the deep eutectic solvent were measured in the temperature range 288.15-323.15 K. The results show that the density of the deep eutectic solvent decreased linearly with increasing temperature, and the viscosity decreased gradually. At 313.15 K, the viscosity of [N111C3MPi]Br2/ethylene glycol (molar ratio of 1∶6) was only 25.57 mPa·s. Using the deep eutectic solvent as the extractant, the conditions for separation of benzene/n-hexane were optimized by orthogonal tests, namely a separation time of 1.5 h, separation temperature of 313.15 K, feed ratio (volume ratio of deep eutectic solvent to benzene/n-hexane solution) of 1∶1. Under the optimized conditions, the distribution coefficient and selectivity of benzene were 9.29 and 120.83, respectively, which were significantly higher than those reported using sulfolane and other ionic liquid systems.

Total 1