Alkyl
levulinate, prepared from the esterification of levulinic
acid and n-alcohol, has the potential to be used as a fuel additive.
Alcohol has also been used as an additive in fuel to improve ignition
and combustion characteristics to a certain extent. For this reason,
the properties of mixtures containing these compounds are of particular
interest. Herein, measurements of density (ρ), surface tension
(γ), and refractive index (n) were conducted
for three binary mixtures of methyl levulinate–methanol (ML–M),
ethyl levulinate–ethanol (EL–E), and n-butyl levulinate–butanol (BL–B). These properties
were measured over the entire range of compositions in 0.1 increments
of the molar fraction of the components in the temperature range of T = 298.15–323.15 K and at an atmospheric pressure
of p = 0.1 MPa. The experimental data were used to
calculate the excess and deviation properties, that is, excess molar
volumes (V
m
Ε), surface tension deviations (Δγ),
and molar refraction deviations (ΔR). The V
m
Ε, Δγ, and ΔR values were fitted
to the Redlich–Kister polynomial equation. The V
m
Ε and
ΔR values were negative for all compositions,
whereas Δγ exhibited both negative and positive values
at different compositions. The molecular interactions of the binary
mixtures are discussed from these excess and deviation functions.
Furthermore, the Jouyban–Acree model was used for the correlation
of properties: density, surface tension, and refractive index of the
studied mixtures at different temperatures (T = 298.15–323.15
K). The results are expected to provide fundamental data for understanding
the properties of alkyl levulinate as a potential bio-based fuel additive.