Ternary and binary LLE measurements for solvent (2-methyltetrahydrofuran and cyclopentyl methyl ether) + furfural + water between 298 and 343 K

Highlights: • Novel LLE of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran or cyclopentyl methyl ether + furfural + water. • High performance solvents for liquid-liquid extraction exhibited. • Modelled with UNIQUAC-HOC activity coefficient model. • Comparison to other industrial solvents with distribution coefficient and selectivity. - Abstract: The suitability of two solvents for the extraction of furfural from aqueous streams is assessed through novel ternary and binary liquid-liquid equilibria data for mixtures of solvent (2-methyltetrahydrofuran or cyclopentyl methyl ether) + furfural + water. The measured data are reported along with regressed binary interaction parameters for UNIQUAC-HOC activity coefficient model and further analyzed through distribution coefficients and selectivity for furfural. Out of the two solvents, cyclopentyl methyl ether presents a very high selectivity along with good distribution coefficient in the entire temperature range.