Solubility and solution thermodynamics of sorbic acid in eight pure organic solvents

By the gravimetric method, the solubility of sorbic acid in eight solvents including ethanol, 2-propanol, methanol, 1-butanol, ethyl acetate, methyl tert-butyl ether, acetone and acetonitrile was determined over a temperature range from 285.15 to K at atmospheric pressure. For the temperature range investigated, the solubility of sorbic acid in the solvents increased with increasing temperature. The experimental values were correlated with the linear solvation energy relationship, modified Apelblat equation, λh equation, non-random two-liquid (NRTL) model, and Wilson model. On the other hand, the enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy of dissolution were obtained from these solubility values by using the van’t Hoff and Gibbs equations. The excess enthalpy of solution was estimated on the basis of λh equation. Furthermore, the a priori predictive model COSMO-RS was employed to predict the solubility of sorbic acid in selected solvents and reasonable agreement with experimental values is achieved.