Solutions of alkyl methanoates and alkanes: Simultaneous modeling of phase equilibria and mixing properties. Estimation of behavior by UNIFAC with recalculation of parameters

• A thermodynamic model for representing thermodynamic properties of alkyl methanoate + alkanes is used with good results.
• Alkyl methanoate + alkanes systems are investigated using UNIFAC model and other predictive model.
• The parameters corresponding to the interaction HCOO/CH2 are recalculated for UNIFAC.

Isobaric vapor–liquid equilibria at p = 101.32 kPa (iso-p VLE) and the mixing properties, hE and vE, are determined for a set of twelve binary solutions: HCOOCuH2u+1(1)+CnH2n+2(2) with u = (1–4) and n = (7–9). The (iso-p VLE) present deviations from the ideal behavior, which augment as u diminishes and n increases. Systems with [u = 2,3 n = 7] and [u =4 , n = 7,8] present a minimum-boiling azeotrope. The non-ideality is also reflected in high endothermic values, hE > 0, and expansive effects, vE > 0, for all the binaries, which increase regularly with n. However, for a same hydrocarbon, the properties diminish with increasing u. This, in turn, causes the dipolar effect of the methanoates to decrease, with the resulting reduction in mixing effects. As a result, other interpretations on the behavioral structural model of these systems are established. Modeling of the experimental quantities is carried out using the authors’ model with good results, and comparisons are made with an adapted version of the NRTL model. Energetic properties of the solutions are predicted with the UNIFAC group contribution model, but the values obtained are not as good. Hence, parameters corresponding to the specific interaction HCOO/CH2 are recalculated using a wider database, resulting in slightly better values. COSMO-RS methodology is also employed to assess the energetic effects of the mixing process. Apart from some exceptions, also mentioned here, the method gives an acceptable estimation of the behavior of these systems.

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