Volumes of mixing of n-octylacetate + n-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 + n-hexane; +n--heptane; + n-octane; +nn-nonane; + n-decane; +nn-dodecane; + n-tetradecane and + 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