Health Indicators: A Review by Thermodynamic Assessment of Acetic Acid in The Presence of Selected Binary Immiscible Solvents
Authors:   Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria, Ogechi Onyeocha Dr Veronica , Ikejiofor Onuchukwu Anthony ,   Department of Chemistry, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus Anambra State, 431124, Nigeria
Published: July 2023

Background: This report reviews the thermodynamic assessment of Acetic Acid in binary immiscible solvents as an insidious health indicator that requires the confirmation of amount present and its treatment prior to discharge in effluents and sewage waste management. This measure upholds sustainability for the clean and green environment. Acetic acid is a potent harmful chemical compound. However, it is used in the chemical industry, medicine, household, and foods. Exposure to industrial compounds that contain Acetic acid is hazardous to health. Severe allergic reactions manifest from exposure to Acetic acid include rash, hives, difficulty in breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips or tongue, irritation, sensitivity, etc. The use of binary immiscible solvents in the analysis of Acetic acid gives the thermodynamic predictive parameter, namely: Partition coefficient (kD), which serves as an indicator that provides the amount of Acetic acid in the environment under suspect. Also, partition coefficient, kD highlights the efficiency of either the removal of Acetic acid from the environment or gives amount of Acetic acid extracted from effluents/sewage assessment by using the technique on the value(s) obtained from partition coefficients. Methods: Acetic acid was dissolved in three binary immiscible solvents, namely: Carbon Tetrachloride-Water, Diethyl Ether-Water and n-Hexane-Water, at 30℃ and an atmospheric pressure. Varying quantities of Acetic acid (the solute) were distributed into the respective binary immiscible solvents. The different volumes of AnalaR Grade reagent of Acetic acid were respectively poured into the separating funnel. The separating funnel was shaken vigorously and allowed to stand in order to establish equilibrium of diffusion of the solute in the system, as reported earlier by Onyeocha et. al. Titre-values were obtained for the concentrations of Acetic acid in the two phases of binary immiscible solutions that were formed. Results: The results in the three systems were analysed, Acetic acid had the partition coefficient, kD = 0.05838 in Diethyl Ether-Water, the dimerization constant, K = 0.0068 while ionization constant, = 0.03998 in the same system. Acetic acid had the kD = 0.05674, K = 2.0281 in magnitude and = 0.0013, in n-Hexane-Water and kD = 0.01643, K = 250.9771 and = 0.0196 in Carbon Tetrachloride-Water. Conclusion: This work shows that Carbon Tetrachloride-Water, Diethyl Ether-Water and n-Hexane-Water are efficient binary immiscible solvents for the analysis of Acetic acid proven waste treatment management for effluent and sewage disposal to ensure the sustainable clean and green environment devoid of any residual Acetic acid. Indeed, partition function, kD is a novel thermodynamic parameter recently introduced by Onyeocha et. al. for the quantitative evaluation and residual assessment of Acetic acid in the environment.