The
separation of monocarboxylic acids (formic, acetic, and propionic)
from aqueous solutions is still a current issue for both scientific
and industrial fields. Reactive extraction with an adequate extractant
and diluent system has been focused and researched as an alternative
to other separation techniques. Lately, the use of green solvents
instead of conventional organic solvents in carboxylic acid extraction
has received a great amount of attention. In this aspect, in the present
research, the recovery of formic acid (FA), acetic acid (AA), and
propionic acid (PA) from aqueous solutions was carried out by reactive
extraction with green solvents. In the current reactive study, tributyl
phosphate (TBP) has been used as an extractant, and green solvents,
cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran
(2-MeTHF), have been utilized as diluents. The effect of TBP concentration
(0.7–5.2 mol·kg–1) on the extraction
power was investigated. In addition, the effects of the use of two
different green solvents on extraction were also investigated. Distribution
coefficient (D), extraction efficiency (E%), and loading factor (Z) values were ascertained
and interpreted. D, E, and Z were determined to be in the ranges of 0.289–4.003,
22.41–78.41%, and 0.198–2.218, respectively. It was
also observed that, for the studied range, the extractant concentration
was increased to be effective when using CPME as the diluent, but
a similar effect was not seen when 2-MeTHF was used. However, 2-MeTHF
was observed to be a more effective solvent for physical extraction.
The extraction efficiency in both diluents increased in the order
of PA > AA ≥ FA.