The enthalpies of dilution of xylitol in water and aqueous alkali halide solutions have been determined by using flow-mix-isothermal microcalorimetry at 298.15 K. The enthalpic interaction coefficients in the range of alkali salt solutions have been calculated according to the McMillan-Mayer theory. Enthalpic pairwise interaction coefficients (h₂) of xylitol are positive in aqueous alkali-halogen salt solution. The important tendency is that value of h₂ becomes more positive with the increase of the radius of alkali salt cation or haloid anion. The results were discussed in terms of the different alkali salt ions, interactions of solute with solute and solute with solvent.

Key words: xylitol, enthalpy of dilution, alkali halide, enthalpic interaction coefficient