Partition of dissociable compounds in two-phase liquid systems : a theoretical and experimental study

The partition at equilibrium, in a two-phase liquid system, of a compound dissociated in one phase, or both, is expressed in terms of general equations and analyzed. Dissociation in the second phase, even weak, has a non-negligible influence. The distribution ratio depends strongly on the concentration and can even be reversed in certain cases. All the partition and dissociation constants in each phase can be obtained from the concentrations at equilibrium measured under some given conditions. In less favorable cases, an apparent partition constant can still be estimated. This is illustrated by an experimental study, in the water/dichloromethane system, involving the partition of picric acid and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) followed by UV-Visible spectroscopy, and of a series of tetraalkylammonium bromides (ethyl, propyl, and butyl) assayed by mass spectroscopy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.