VOLUMES OF MIXING OF NORMAL-OCTYLACETATE + NORMAL-ALKANES - AN INTERPRETATION IN TERMS OF THE PRIGOGINE-FLORY-PATTERSON THEORY

The results of measurements of molar excess volumes V**E at 303. 15 K over the whole mole fraction range for eight mixtures: n-octylacetate plus n-hexane; plus n-heptane; plus n-octane; plus n-nonane; plus n-decane; plus n-dodecane; plus n-tetradecane and plus n-hexadecane are presented. The experimental values of V**E show a regular pattern of behaviour for the eight sets of binary mixtures. The magnitude of V**E for this class of mixtures decreases as the n-alkane chain-length decreases. In order to explain the observed behaviour, the Prigogine-Flory-Patterson theory is used to predict the total V**E and the three different contributions to V**E. Agreement between the theoretical and experimental V**E is reasonable for the eight systems studied.