PREDICTION OF PH IN COMPLEX AQUEOUS MIXTURES USING A GROUP-CONTRIBUTION METHOD

Expressions that suitably describe the behavior of weak electrolytes in aqueous systems are developed. A new numerical procedure is presented to allow for partial dissociation phenomena and so consider the whole species in solution. It is based on mass balances, the electroneutrality assumption, and dissociation constants of electrolytes. Combining it with a modified UNIFAC electrolyte group-contribution model based on the solvation concept directly allows calculation of pH, activities, and concentrations of species. The validity and usefulness of the expressions are tested using data for the pH of buffer solutions and complex aqueous mixtures such as fermentation media and liquid foods: pH values accurate to within +/- 0.05 pH units were obtained.