This work presents a modeling approach to describe the volumetric properties of unsaturated solutions in the quaternary Li–Na–K–Cl–H2O system from 288.15 to 323.15 K and at 101.3 kPa using the Pitzer equations. This system is a key component of the electrolytic environment found in brines extracted from the Salar de Atacama in Chile, which are used to produce lithium compounds.
The densities measured in this study, validated against data from the literature, showed trends consistent with changes in concentration and temperature, where KCl(aq) exerts the greatest influence on solution density.
New volumetric parameters for the LiCl – H2O system at 323.15 K were obtained, and volumetric interaction coefficients in ternary mixtures were determined as a function of temperature, thereby expanding the existing database. The resulting standard deviations were low (below 1 %), demonstrating the model robustness in predicting volumetric properties for complex multi–component systems.
The volumes of mixing analysis revealed significant structural changes in these solutions: NaCl(aq) and LiCl(aq) act as structure breakers of water, while KCl(aq) exhibits dual behavior depending on the solution composition and total ionic strength. This information is valuable for understanding the structural nature of concentrated solutions and their impact on industrial processes to produce lithium compounds from brines.