Solubility and Solution Thermodynamic Properties of 4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone (Raspberry Ketone) in Different Pure Solvents

The solubility of 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone (raspberry ketone) in six pure solvents was experimentally determined at temperatures ranging from 283.15 to 313.15 K under the pressure 0.10 MPa by employing a gravimetrical method. The experimental results indicate that the solubility of raspberry ketone in all studied solvents is temperature dependent, a rise in temperature brings about an increase in solubility. The experimental solubility data of raspberry ketone in six pure solvents (acetone, ethanol, ethyl acetate, n-propyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, and distilled water) was correlated by using several commonly used thermodynamic models, including the Apelblat, van’t Hoff and λh equations. The results of the error analysis indicate that the van’t Hoff equation was able to give more accurate and reliable predictions of solubility with root-mean-square deviation less than 0.56%. Furthermore, the changes of dissolution enthalpies (Δ_diss H°), dissolution entropies (Δ_diss S°) and dissolution Gibbs energies (Δ_diss G°) of raspberry ketone in the solvents studied were estimated by the van’t Hoff equation. The positive value of Δ_diss H°, Δ_diss S°, and Δ_diss G° indicated that these dissolution processes of raspberry ketone in the solvents studied were all endothermic and enthalpy-driven.