Study on the Interactions of a Promising Cancer-Preventive Drug Ferulic Acid in Aqueous Ethanol/1-Propanol Solutions Using Volumetric, Viscometric, and Refractive Index Approaches

Abstract

The intermolecular interactions of ferulic acid (FA), a promising cancer-preventive agent, in mixed aqueous alcohol solutions were investigated using volumetric, viscometric, and refractive index approaches. The density and viscosity of aqueous ethanol/1-propanol solutions of FA were measured at different temperatures (293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, and 313.15 K) under atmospheric pressure using a digital liquid densimeter and an automatic rolling-ball microviscometer, respectively. The refractive index of aqueous ethanol/1-propanol solutions of FA was measured at 298.15 K using a refractometer. The apparent molar volumes and limiting partial molar volumes were calculated from the measured solution density values. The viscosity B-coefficients and their variation with temperature, that is, dB/dT, were obtained from the viscosity data. The molar refractions of FA were calculated from the refractive index measurements. In addition, the variation of these thermodynamic parameters with solution composition and temperature was analyzed in the light of the solute–solvent intermolecular interactions. The structure making/breaking ability of FA in the studied aqueous alcohol systems was investigated by studying the dB/dT dependence.