Evaluation of molecular interactions in binary mixtures comprising ethylene and di-ethylene glycol with ethyl lactate through thermophysical and spectroscopic studies

In this article, the study of molecular interactions in liquid systems containing industrially and biologically important solvents with minimal environmental damage has been done. Density (rho) and refractive index (n(D)) of binary systems comprising ethyl lactate (EL) + ethylene glycol (EG) and di-ethylene glycol (DEG) at various mole fractions and T = (298.15 to 313.15) K along with pure components have been measured. The observed parameters were further used for determination of excess molar volumes (V-m(E)), partial molar volumes ((V) over barm ), excess partial molar volumes ((V) over bar (E)(m)), deviations in refractive index (Delta(phi)n(D)) and deviations in molar refraction (Delta R-phi(M)). Redlich-Kister coefficients along with standard deviations have been obtained by approximation of data to polynomial equation. The obtained V-m(E) results have been investigated theoretically by means of Prigogine-Flory-Patterson (PFP) and Graph theories to estimate type and nature of interactions among constituent molecules which can be used to explain the changes in physicochemical properties of the mixtures. By analysing experimental data in light of PFP Theory, Interactional and characteristic pressure contributions have been found negative values for both the binary systems whereas free volume contribution possess positive sign. The structural variation of the components in the mixtures due to change in molecular interactions has been discussed by Graph theory. Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) studies have also been performed for pure and equimolar mixtures to enlighten the experimental outcomes. It confirmed the rupture of pre-existing bonding in lactate and the formation of new hydrogen bonds with glycols. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.