Vibrational spectroscopy of weak hydroxy acids used as extractants of sodium hydroxide into 1-octanol

A cation-exchange mechanism is shown to be operational in the transfer of sodium hydroxide equivalents into the organic phase under conditions of partial to full loading. It is found that the extraction of additional sodium hydroxide to form a superloaded extract does not form any identifiable species other than the alkoxide itself. Any species formed are most likely a dynamic aggregate without any spectral features that would stand out from the broad bands of the hydroxyl vibrations.