A main purpose of using binary solutions as phase change materials is to benefit from the latent heat or enthalpy difference at melting. In the design of latent heat storage systems, the enthalpy change of the PCM has to be known with high precision. In this article, we show with the help of experimental data and numerical analysis why the use of differential scanning calorimetry measurements is troublesome for dispersed binary solutions inside an emulsion. The article shows how an enthalpy-phase diagram of salt solution during the eutectic and progressive melting can be constructed, gives chart with enthalpy values, apparent specific heat capacity and ice concentration as a function of temperature and initial salt concentration. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.