Vapor-liquid equilibrium in ammonia complex systems

The vapor‐liquid equilibrium in ammonia complex systems has been studied with a view toward design methods for separational and leaching processes. It is felt that the previously reported equilibrium constants for these systems are subject to considerable question with regard to the method used to measure the activity of the free ligand, or coordinating species. It is shown how this difficulty can be surmounted by the use of ammonia vapor pressure measurements and fugacities. A method of correlating complex equilibrium data from measurements of over‐all metal concentration and free metal ion concentration is proposed. Vapor liquid equilibrium measurements have been made on the systems copper hydroxide, ammonia, water, nitrogen and nickel hydroxide, ammonia, water, nitrogen at 40° and 60°C. under 1 atm. total pressure with a continuously recirculating batch contactor. The correlation method is illustrated with the data of these measurements.