Modelling of the ternary system H3PO4/H2O/TBP

Abstract A thermodynamic model is presented for the extraction of phosphoric acid from water by tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP), from aqueous solutions containing 0–6 mol/kg phosphoric acid. The activity coefficient of phosphoric acid was calculated from experimental data using Pitzer’s equation, and those of the components in the organic phase were calculated by Sergievskii–Danus’s relationship. The proposed model gives a satisfactory description of the distribution of phosphoric acid and water, in the considered concentration range, by taking into account the formation of the following species: TBP, TBP·H2O, H3PO4·TBP and (TBP)2·H3PO4·H2O.