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Functions of Hydrotropes in Solutions
Author(s) -
Subbarao C. V.,
Chakravarthy I. P. K.,
Sai Bharadwaj A. V. S. L.,
Prasad K. M. M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201100484
Subject(s) - chemistry , solubility , organic chemistry , extraction (chemistry) , solubilization , distillation , boiling , chromatography , chemical engineering , biochemistry , engineering
Hydrotropes affect a several‐fold increase of the solubility of sparingly soluble solutes under normal conditions. Their water‐solubility can significantly enhance the solubility of organic solutes such as esters, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons, and fats. While the study of hydrotropes is pioneered by a biochemist, greater appreciation of their role and applicability has happened rather in chemistry and chemical engineering than in biology. Hydrotropes are widely used in drug solubilization, as extraction agents for fragrances, as agents to increase the rate of heterogeneous reactions, and for separation of close‐boiling liquid mixtures through extractive distillation and liquid‐liquid extraction. Applications of hydrotropy and its mechanism are discussed and the scope for future work is presented in this review.