The multicomponent solubility of hydrocarbons in water

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Abstract
The aqueous solubility of six binary hydrocarbon systems consisting of benzene and cyclohexane with each of 2‐methyl‐pentane, n‐hexane, and l‐hexene, have been measured at 25d'C. The solubility of each hydrocarbon component is greater by from 6 to 35% than the value expected by prediction on the basis of the solubility of the hydrocarbon component being proportional to its mole fraction in the hydrocarbon phase. This positive deviation is partly attributable to the activity coefficient of the hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon phase being slightly greater than unity. There is, however, additional solubility enhancement of from 1 to 25% with an average of 10.7% apparently due to the reduction of the hydrocarbon activity coefficients in the aqueous phase by the presence of the other hydrocarbon. The implications of these effects in calculating the solubility of complex hydrocarbon mixtures in water is considered.