Phase Separation of Polyethylene Glycol/Salt Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

Salt in polyethylene glycol (PEG)/salt aqueous two-phase systems was excluded by PEG and concentrated in the solvent volume available for dissolution of salt (PEG-free solvent). The concentration of salt in the PEG-free solvent of the PEG-rich phase was the same as that at the critical point regardless of the compositions of the PEG/salt two-phase systems. This explained that the phase separation of PEG/salt two-phase systems occurs when the concentration of salt in the PEG-free solvent reaches its solubility limit. The concentration of salt required in the PEG-free solvent for the phase separation was lower with higher molecular weight of PEG. The solubility of salt in the PEG-free solvent decreased with increases in the molal surface tension increment of salt. The solubility limit of salt in the PEG-free solvent was 0.93 M for ammonium sulfate, 0.77 M for potassium phosphate, 0.75 M for sodium tartrate, 0.67 M for sodium phosphate, and 0.53 M for potassium citrate.