Phase equilibrium, aqueous systems distribution

The interface separating two immiscible electrolyte solutions, e.g., one aqueous and the other based on a polar organic solvent, may be reversible with respect to one or many ions simultaneously, and also to electrons. Works by Nernst constitute a fundamental contribution to the electrochemical analysis of the phase equilibrium between two immiscible electrolyte solutions [1-3]. According to these works, in the above system electrical potentials originate from the difference of distribution coefficients of ions of the electrolyte present in the both phases. 

MINTEQA2 http //www.epa.gov/ceampubl/mmedia/minteq/index.htm MINTEQA2 is an equilibrium speciation model that can be used to calculate the equilibrium composition of dilute aqueous solutions in the laboratory or in natural aqueous systems. The model is useful for calculating the equilibrium mass distribution among dissolved species, adsorbed species, and multiple solid phases under a variety of conditions including a gas phase with constant partial pressures. 

Solvent Extraction Relationships. In a solvent extraction system, the two phases are immiscible, but under proper conditions phase-transfer of one or more species can occur across the organic/aqueous interface. Expansion of the interface by gentle agitation of the vessel containing the two phases allows phase equilibrium to be attained quickly, usually in 1 to 2 minutes. In such an extraction system, the distribution of a metal, M, between the two phases at equilibrium is described by a distribution coefficient, Dj, where [M] represents the concentration of the metal. 

DYNAMICS OF DISTRIBUTION The natural aqueous system is a complex multiphase system which contains dissolved chemicals as well as suspended solids. The metals present in such a system are likely to distribute themselves between the various components of the solid phase and the liquid phase. Such a distribution may attain (a) a true equilibrium or (b) follow a steady state condition. If an element in a system has attained a true equilibrium, the ratio of element concentrations in two phases (solid/liquid), in principle, must remain unchanged at any given temperature. The mathematical relation of metal concentrations in these two phases is governed by the Nernst distribution law (41) commonly called the partition coefficient (1 ) and is defined as = s) /a(l) where a(s) is the activity of metal ions associated with the solid phase and a( ) is the activity of metal ions associated with the liquid phase (dissolved). This behavior of element is a direct consequence of the dynamics of ionic distribution in a multiphase system. For dilute solution, which generally obeys Raoult s law (41) activity (a) of a metal ion can be substituted by its concentration, (c) moles L l or moles Kg i. This ratio (Kd) serves as a comparison for relative affinity of metal ions for various components-exchangeable, carbonate, oxide, organic-of the solid phase. Chemical potential which is a function of several variables controls the numerical values of Kd (41). 

Transport of solutes through the LM occurs by either passive transport or by carrier-facilitated transport. Phenol, for example, is soluble in both phases, and treatment of an aqueous phenol solution with an emulsion results in a lowering of the external concentration of phenol as it passively diffuses through the hydrocarbon (HC) layer and into the internal aqueous phase. Equilibrium is reached when the concentrations of phenol in both aqueous solutions are equal (assuming no other conditions are present which would alter the distribution between the aqueous and HC phases). One way to alter this equilibrium is to trap phenol inside with a sodium hydroxide solution. Phenol ionizes at high pH, and the phenolate ion cannot permeate a HC layer trace amounts of phenol have been completely removed from wastewaters by this system (10, 11). This exclusion of charged molecules by the aliphatic hydrocarbon LM layer is desirable in some applications, but to employ LM enzyme reactors and/or separation systems with amino acids, it is necessary to incorporate carriers into the HC phase. 

The reactivity in phase-transfer catalysis is controlled by (1) the reaction rate in the organic phase, (2) the mass transfer steps between the organic and aqueous phases, and (3) the distribution equilibrium of the quaternary salts between the two phases. The distribution of quaternary salts between two phases directly affects the entire system reactivity [60-62]. On the basis of the experimental data and earlier literature [27,28,63], a generalized approach describing a LLPTC reaction system uses a pseudo-first-order reaction. The rate expression is written as... 

For ionic micelles, the cation or anion of the amphiphilic molecule remains in equilibrium between the two phases. An indicator solute distributes itself between the two phases. Any property (P) of the solute that has dependence on its local environment can be used to reveal the equilibrium process. Due to difference in polarity, the value of P is expected to be different in the two phases. The value of P for such systems will be determined by the time average location of the probe in the two phases [85]. The measured value of F in a micellar media can be assumed to be represented by a mole fraction average of the aqueous phase property (Pa ) and micellar phase property PJ, as given by the following equation ... 

Saturation index calculations made as part of a species distribution problem allow an assessment to be made of the effect of organic acids on the likely state of heterogeneous equilibria in an aqueous system (see Drever 1988, for discussion and definitions). By comparing saturation indices for minerals in systematically different waters we can predict the likely behavior of these minerals in the presence of organic acids. The predictions about mineral stability vary with the precise constraints that are placed on the calculations, in particular whether the cations are constrained to be in equilibrium with a mineral phase or set as a total concentration, the temperature, the partial pressure of CO2, and the anionic composition of the water. Conclusions that differ from those presented here may be possible, nevertheless, some consistent trends emerge that are related to observations made in the preceding section about speciation. 

In a multiphase formulation, such as an oil-in-water emulsion, preservative molecules will distribute themselves in an unstable equilibrium between the bulk aqueous phase and (i) the oil phase by partition, (ii) the surfactant micelles by solubilization, (iii) polymeric suspending agents and other solutes by competitive displacement of water of solvation, (iv) particulate and container surfaces by adsorption and, (v) any microorganisms present. Generally, the overall preservative efficiency can be related to the small proportion of preservative molecules remaining unbound in the bulk aqueous phase, although as this becomes depleted some slow re-equilibration between the components can be anticipated. The loss of neutral molecules into oil and micellar phases may be favoured over ionized species, although considerable variation in distribution is found between different systems. 

Lipophilicity is a molecular property expressing the relative affinity of solutes for an aqueous phase and an organic, water-immiscible solvent. As such, lipophilicity encodes most of the intermolecular forces that can take place between a solute and a solvent, and represents the affinity of a molecule for a lipophilic environment. This parameter is commonly measured by its distribution behavior in a biphasic system, described by the partition coefficient of the species X, P. Thermodynamically, is defined as a constant relating the activity of a solute in two immiscible phases at equilibrium [111,112]. By convention, P is given with the organic phase as numerator, so that a positive value for log P reflects a preference for the lipid phase ... 

A simple rocking device was tested for routine determination of distribution coefficients [9], Sample cells were constructed for two-phase [9] and three-phase [10] systems. The investigators claim that the rocking action causes the shape of each phase to vary slowly and constantly and that the precision associated with the distribution coefficient is similar to that for shake-out methods. The three-phase cell was tested as an in vitro model to simulate factors involved in the absorption process. Rates of drug transfer and equilibrium drug distribution were evaluated under conditions in which one aqueous phase was maintained at pH 7.4 and the other phase was maintained at another pH. 

It assumes that there are no significant solute-solute interactions and no strong solute-solvent interactions which would influence the distribution process. Concentrations are expressed as mass/unit volume, and usually C1 refers to an aqueous phase and C2 to a non-aqueous phase. The equilibrium constant (P or K) defining this system is referred to as the partition coefficient or distribution ratio. The thermodynamic partition coefficient (P ) is given by the ratio of the respective mole fractions as follows ... 

General solvent extraction practice involves only systems that are unsaturated relative to the solute(s). In such a ternary system, there would be two almost immiscible liquid phases (one that is generally aqueous) and a solute at a relatively low concentration that is distributed between them. The single degree of freedom available in such instances (at a given temperature) can be construed as the free choice of the concentration of the solute in one of the phases, provided it is below the saturation value (i.e., its solubility in that phase). Its concentration in the other phase is fixed by the equilibrium condition. The question arises of whether or not its distribution between the two liquid phases can be predicted. 

An alternative formulation of the phase-transfer DCC concept was reported in 2008 by the Sanders group [75]. In this case, thiol monomers were dissolved in water on either side of a U-tube containing chloroform (Fig. 1.23). After allowing the system to reach equilibrium, monomer distribution was identical in both aqueous solutions, and mixed species (e.g., 51) were observed in the chloroform layer. 

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