High-Pressure Fluid Phase Equilibria

Abstract

One of the crucial aspects in the design of processes of this millennium is the use of environmentally benign technologies. The introduction of supercritical fluids (SCF) and, in addition, their use with other solvents, such as ionic liquids, further diversify the applications of these fluids. SCF are powerful solvents with many unique properties. They have the mobility of gases and the dissolving power of liquid solvents, resulting in efficient high mass transfer rates and penetration into porous matrices. However, reliable and versatile mathematical models of phase equilibrium thermodynamics are needed for use in process design and viability studies. This chapter reviews experimental procedures for obtaining high-pressure phase equilibria data. In addition, phase diagrams describing binary mixtures and thermodynamic models capable of determining the conditions at phase equilibria at high pressures are considered.