Investigation of thermodynamic properties of the binary system polyethylene glycol/CO2 using new methods

The solubility and diffusivity of CO₂ in polyethylene glycols (PEGs) of different molecular weight measured by two different methods are discussed in the present work. Before solubility measurements, the melting temperatures of PEG with different molecular weights were determined by means of differential scanning calorimetry. For the purpose of the present study a temperature of 343 K was chosen as the working temperature for both employed methods since all studied polymers are in liquid state at this temperature. All samples were analyzed at isothermal conditions and in the pressure range from 0 MPa up to 30.0 MPa. A set of absorption experiments on the PEG/CO₂ systems was performed using an external balance method. In order to validate results obtained by the new method they were compared to the data obtained at the same process conditions by a method using magnetic suspension balance (MSB).     

Viscosity and rheological behavior of carbon dioxide-expanded fish oil fatty acid ethyl esters: Measurement using a rotational viscometer and modeling

The viscosity of fish oil fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) in equilibrium with CO₂ was determined at 40, 55, and 70 °C and pressures ranging from 0.1 to about 12 MPa using a rotational rheometer equipped with a high pressure cell. Viscosity of CO₂-expanded (CX) FAEE decreased due to the dissolution of CO₂ with pressure, which was temperature dependent. The viscosity of CX FAEE was correlated using a new empirical model utilizing saturation pressure and temperature with temperature-dependent parameters, which allows interpolation of viscosity data for any pressure and temperature within the envelope of this study. As well, viscosity was modeled using available data for CO₂ solubility in FAEE at specific temperatures of this study utilizing simpler models with only one parameter, such as the Grunberg and Nissan model. The rheological data suggest shear thickening behavior of CX FAEE at elevated pressures. The limitations of the rotational rheometer for measuring CX liquids at viscosities below 1 mPa s are discussed. Understanding of viscosity and rheological behavior of CX FAEE is essential for equipment and process design involving such lipids.     

Phase behavior of 1,3,5-tri-tert-butylbenzene–carbon dioxide binary system

1,3,5-tri-tert-butylbenzene (TTBB) is solid at ambient conditions, and has substantial solubility in liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide. We present the phase behavior of TTBB–CO₂ binary system at temperatures between 298 and 328 K and at pressures up to 20 MPa. Phase diagrams showing the liquid–vapor, solid–liquid and solid–vapor equilibrium envelopes are constructed by pressure–volume–temperature measurements in a variable-volume sapphire cell. TTBB is highly soluble in CO₂ over a wide range of compositions. Single-phase states are achieved at moderate pressures, even with very high TTBB concentrations. For example, at 328 K, a binary system containing TTBB at a concentration of 95% by weight forms a single-phase above 2.04 MPa. TTBB exhibits a significant melting-point depression in the presence of CO₂, 45 K at 3.11 MPa, where the normal melting point of 343 K is reduced to 298 K. With its high solubility in carbon dioxide, TTBB has potential uses as a binder or template in materials forming processes using dense carbon dioxide.     

Phase equilibria of the propylene glycol/CO2 and propylene glycol/ethanol/CO2 systems

The high-pressure vapour–liquid phase equilibria (P–T–x–y) of the binary mixture propylene glycol/CO₂ have been experimentally investigated at temperatures of (398.2, 423.2 and 453.2) K over the pressure range from (2.5 to 55.0) MPa using a static-analytic method. Furthermore, the high-pressure vapour–liquid phase equilibria (P–T–x–y) of the ternary mixture propylene glycol/CO₂/ethanol at constant temperatures of (398.2, 423.2 and 453.2) K and at constant pressure of 15.0 MPa have been determined using a static-analytic method. Initial concentrations of components in propylene glycol (PG)/ethanol (EtOH) mixture vary from 10 up to 90 wt.%. In general, for binary system it was observed that the solubility of CO₂ in the heavy propylene glycol reach phase increases with increasing pressure at constant temperature. On the contrary, the composition of gaseous phase is not influenced by the pressure or the temperature. On average the solubility of PG in light phase of CO₂ amounts to 30 wt.%. The system behaviour at temperature of 398.2 K was investigated up to 70.0 MPa and a single-phase region was not observed. Above the pressure 60.0 MPa a single-phase region of the system was observed for the temperature of 423.2 K. For the temperature of 453.2 K the single-phase was observed above the pressure of 48.0 MPa. For ternary system it was observed that the composition of heavy phase is slightly influenced by the temperature when the mass fraction of EtOH in initial mixture is higher than 50 wt.%. If the mass fraction of PG in initial mixture is higher than 50 wt.%, the composition of heavy phase is not influenced by the temperature anymore. The composition of the PG, EtOH and CO₂ in light phase remains more or less unchanged and it is not influenced by the conditions.     

The pH of CO2-saturated water at temperatures between 308 K and 423 K at pressures up to 15 MPa

We report pH measurements for CO₂-saturated water in the pressure range from (0.28 to 15.3) MPa and temperatures from (308.3 to 423.2) K. Commercially available pH and Ag/AgCl electrodes were used together with a high pressure equilibrium vessel operating under conditions of precisely controlled temperature and pressure. The results of the study indicate that pH decreases along an isotherm in proportion to −log₁₀(x), where x is the mole fraction of dissolved CO₂ in H₂O. The expanded uncertainty of the pH measurements is 0.06 pH units with a coverage factor of 2. The reported results are in good agreement with the literature in pressure ranges up to 16 MPa at temperatures below 343 K. An empirical equation has been developed to represent the present results with an expanded uncertainty of 0.05 pH units. We also compare our results with a chemical equilibrium model and find agreement to within 0.1 pH unit.     

Argon as a potential processing media for natural and synthetic substances

Phase equilibrium data of caffeine, vanillin, o-ethyl vanillin and a natural rosemary extract (containing 73.9% carnosic acid and 14.7% carnosol) in argon have been determined in present work.Solubility data were determined at temperatures of 313.15 K, 333.15 K and 363.15 K and in the pressure range from 0.82 MPa up to 50.27 MPa using a static–analytic method and were compared to solubility data of the same substances in CO₂.Maximal solubility of vanillin in argon was obtained at a temperature of 313.15 K and a pressure of 43.8 MPa, approx. 0.015 g/g. Comparing the solubility data of pure vanillin in argon and in CO₂ higher solubility in argon is observed at lower temperatures and pressures. For o-ethyl vanillin the solubility in argon is higher in comparison to solubility in CO₂ in the entire range of pressure, especially at higher temperatures_.Maximal solubility of caffeine in argon was observed at a temperature of 363.15 K 0.001361 g caffeine/g argon at 38.9 MPa. With increasing pressure solubility increases, while temperature does not have a noticeable impact in the temperature range from 313.15 K to 333.15 K; the solubility increased with increasing temperature to 363.15 K. Similarly, solubility of carnosic acid extract increases with increasing pressure, from about 0.0097 × 10⁻² g substance/g gas at 2.08 MPa and at 313.15 K to 0.0338 × 10⁻² g substance/g gas at 50.27 MPa and at 363.15 K.Solubility of the investigated compounds in argon is a function of both, pressure and temperature. Generally, pressure significantly impacts solubility particularly up to a pressure of 20.0 MPa in case of vanillin and up to 30 MPa in case of o-ethyl vanillin and carnosic acid extract. An additional increase of pressure has only a slight impact on solubility. In the case of caffeine, the impact of pressure on the solubility becomes more evident at pressures higher than 20 MPa.     

Frequency response of microcantilevers immersed in gaseous,liquid, and supercritical carbon dioxide

The frequency response of ferromagnetic nickel microcantilevers with lengths ranging between 200 μm and 400 μm immersed in gaseous, liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) was investigated. The resonant frequency and the quality factor of the cantilever oscillations in CO₂ were measured for each cantilever length in the temperature range between 298 K and 323 K and the pressure range between 0.1 MPa and 20.7 MPa. At a constant temperature, both the resonant frequency and the quality factor were found to decrease with increasing pressure as a result of the increasing CO₂ density and viscosity. Very good agreement was found between the measured cantilever resonant frequencies and predictions of a model based on simplified hydrodynamic function of a cantilever oscillating harmonically in a viscous fluid valid for Reynolds numbers in the range of [1;1000] (average deviation of 2.40%). At high pressures of CO₂, the experimental Q-factors agreed well with the predicted ones. At low CO₂ pressures, additional internal mechanisms of the cantilever oscillation damping caused lowering of the measured Q-factor with respect to the hydrodynamic model predictions.     

Supported imidazole as heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO2

Imidazole anchored onto a silica matrix, by means of a propyl linkage, is found to be an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO₂ in near quantitative yield. The versatility of this catalyst is demonstrated by using different substrates (epichlorohydrin, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and styrene oxide) for this cycloaddition reaction. These CO₂ insertion reactions were typically carried out in the temperature range of 343 to 403 K at 0.6 MPa CO₂ pressure under solvent-free conditions. Several spectroscopic methods were used to characterize the catalyst and study the integrity of the fresh and spent catalysts.     

Extraction of jojoba seed oil using supercritical CO2+ethanol mixture in green and high-tech separation process

In this study, the extraction of jojoba seed oil obtained from jojoba seed using both supercritical CO₂ and supercritical CO₂+ethanol mixtures was investigated. The recovery of jojoba seed oil was performed in a green and high-tech separation process. The extraction operating was carried out at operating pressures of 25, 35 and 45 MPa, operating temperatures of 343 and 363 K, supercritical fluid flow rates of 3.33 × 10⁻⁸, 6.67 × 10⁻⁸ and 13.33 × 10⁻⁸ m³ s⁻¹, entrainer concentrations of 2, 4 and 8 vol.%, and average particle diameters of 4.1 × 10⁻⁴, 6.1 × 10⁻⁴, 8.6 × 10⁻⁴ and 1.2 × 10⁻³ m. It was found that a green chemical modifier such as ethanol could enhance the solubilities, initial extraction rate and extraction yield of jojoba seed oil from the seed matrix as compared to supercritical CO₂. In addition, it was found that the solubility, the initial extraction rate and the extraction yield depended on operating pressure and operating temperature, entrainer concentration, average particle size and supercritical solvent flow rate. The solubility of jojoba seed oil and initial extraction rate increased with temperature at the operating pressures of 35 and 45 MPa and decreased with increasing temperature at the operating pressure of 25 MPa. Furthermore, supercritical fluid extraction involved short extraction time and minimal usage of small amounts entrainer to the CO₂. About 80% of the total jojoba seed oil was extracted during the constant rate period at the pressure of 35 and 45 MPa.     

Phase equlibiria and diffusivity of dense gases in various polyethylenes

The aim of this work was to investigate the properties of polyethylenes (PE) of various densities (low-density and high-density) under pressure of CO₂ and propane. The phase equilibria of PE of different density in presence of CO₂ and in presence of propane in dependence of pressure and temperature were investigated. The phase transitions of PE at atmospheric pressure were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Furthermore, phase transitions of polymers under pressure of gases were measured by using an optical high pressure cell. Measurements of phase transition were performed in range of pressure of 1–90 MPa. The results show that melting points of LDPE decreased in presence of CO₂ and in presence of propane. For high-density polyethylene (HDPE) the melting point decrease was observed only in presence of propane, while in presence of CO₂ melting point increases with increasing pressure. The melting points of LDPE and HDPE decrease in average for 10–20 K in presence of propane, while in presence of CO₂ the melting point decrease for both LDPE was lower (5–10 K). Solubility and diffusivity of supercritical CO₂ in two low-density polyethylenes (LDPE) and in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were measured at temperature 373 K and pressures up to 30 MPa using a magnetic suspension balance (MSB). The solubility data were used for estimating the binary diffusion coefficients. The solubilities increased with increasing density. The diffusion coefficient shows strong CO₂ density and CO₂ solubility dependence. Diffusion coefficient starts to decrease with increasing density and solubility of CO₂.     

Effect of the porous structure in carbon materials for CO2 capture at atmospheric and high-pressure

Activated carbons prepared from petroleum pitch and using KOH as activating agent exhibit an excellent behavior in CO₂ capture both at atmospheric (∼168 mg CO₂/g at 298 K) and high pressure (∼1500 mg CO₂/g at 298 K and 4.5 MPa). However, an exhaustive evaluation of the adsorption process shows that the optimum carbon structure, in terms of adsorption capacity, depends on the final application. Whereas narrow micropores (pores below 0.6 nm) govern the sorption behavior at 0.1 MPa, large micropores/small mesopores (pores below 2.0–3.0 nm) govern the sorption behavior at high pressure (4.5 MPa). Consequently, an optimum sorbent exhibiting a high working capacity for high pressure applications, e.g., pressure-swing adsorption units, will require a poorly-developed narrow microporous structure together with a highly-developed wide microporous and small mesoporous network. The appropriate design of the preparation conditions gives rise to carbon materials with an extremely high delivery capacity ∼1388 mg CO₂/g between 4.5 MPa and 0.1 MPa. Consequently, this study provides guidelines for the design of carbon materials with an improved ability to remove carbon dioxide from the environment at atmospheric and high pressure.     

Mathematical modelling of phase equilibria for supercritical CO2 and polyethylene glycol of various molecular weights

The Sanchez–Lacombe equation of state and the Statistical Associating Fluid Theory were applied for modelling the phase equilibrium for the polyethylene glycol–CO₂ systems. The Aspen Plus software was used and polyethylene glycol with various molecular weights was investigated. The results were compared with previously obtained experimental values for solubility. The phase equilibrium was calculated at a temperature of 343 K, in the pressure range of 10–30 MPa and for polyethylene glycol molecular weights from 1000 to 100,000 g/mol. The binary interaction parameters for the models were optimized in order to obtain the best fit between the estimated and the experimental gas solubility data. The results suggest that both models are reliable in describing the phase equilibrium of the polyethylene glycol–CO₂ systems at the proposed conditions. Moreover, the molecular weight of the polymer affects the behaviour of the system, as observed from the variation of solubility values and of binary interaction coefficients.     

A shrinking core model and empirical kinetic approaches in supercritical CO2 extraction of safflower seed oil

Utilization of supercritical CO₂ in safflower seed extraction was performed using a semi-batch extractor. Different extraction parameters, such as 40–60 MPa pressure, 323–347 K temperature, 20–76 min time, and 1–3 mL/min CO₂ flow rate were applied. A two-stage experimental design application was performed in order to maximize the oil yield. First of all, a 3² factorial design was applied to estimate the effect of the main factors and their interactions. The second part of the experimental design was improved and accelerated using the steepest ascent method. Optimum extraction parameters were determined to be 50 MPa pressure, 347 K temperature and 76 min time at a constant CO₂ flow rate (3 mL/min) according to the 2² design. Under these conditions, the oil yield obtained was 39.42%, comparable with Soxhlet extraction (40%) for 8 h. Shrinking core and empirical kinetic models were applied in order to generalize the extraction process. The predicted data was compatible with the experimental data.     

Hydrogen solubility in CO2-expanded 2-propanol and in propane-expanded 2-propanol determined by an acoustic sensor

Hydrogen solubility in CO₂-expanded 2-propanol and in propane-expanded 2-propanol was obtained by an acoustic technique described elsewhere [L. Zevnik, J. Levec, Gas expanded liquids: Determination of the volumetric expansion by an acoustic technique, J. Supercrit. Fluids (2007), in press]. Solubility in CO₂-expanded 2-propanol at expansion coefficients V/V₀ = 2 and 4 was determined at 298 and 313 K. H₂ solubility was determined also in liquid CO₂ at 298 K and partial pressure of H₂ up to 6 MPa. Solubility in propane-expanded 2-propanol with V/V₀ = 2 and 4 was measured at 333, 353 and 393 K. Hydrogen mole fraction in liquid propane was obtained at 333 K and partial pressure of H₂ up to 5 MPa. For both expanded liquids the results show that hydrogen concentration increases with increasing V/V₀ ratio and with increasing temperature. It is demonstrated, however, that the acoustic technique is a reliable method for determination of gas composition and that it can be also implemented in various fields of gas processing.     

Phase behavior measurement for poly(isobornyl acrylate) + cosolvent systems in supercritical solvents at high pressure

We have conducted experiments to obtain cloud-point data of binary and ternary mixtures for poly(isobornyl acrylate) [P(IBnA)] (Mw = 100,000) + isobornyl acrylate(IBnA) in supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂), P(IBnA) (Mw = 100,000) + dimethyl ether (DME) in CO₂, P(IBnA) (Mw = 100,000) in propane and butane, and P(IBnA) (Mw = 1,000,000) in propane, propylene, butane and 1-butene at high pressure conditions. Phase behaviors for these systems were measured at a temperature range from 323.4 K to 474.1 K and pressure up to 296.7 MPa. The cloud-point curves of P(IBnA) (Mw = 100,000) + IBnA and DME in CO₂ change from upper critical solution temperature (UCST) behavior to lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior as IBnA and DME concentration increases, and liquid–liquid–vapor phase behavior appears for the P(IBnA) (Mw = 100,000) + CO₂ + 80.3 wt.% IBnA system. Phase behaviors of P(IBnA) and 50 wt.% IBnA in CO₂ and P(IBnA) in propane and butane show the pressure difference in accordance with Mw = 1,000,000 and Mw = 100,000 of P(IBnA). Also, the solubility curves for IBnA in supercritical CO₂ were measured at a temperature range of (313.2–393.2) K and pressure up to 22.86 MPa. The experimental results were modeled with the Peng–Robinson equation of state (PR-EOS) using a mixing rule including two adjustable parameters. The critical property of IBnA is estimated with the Joback–Lyderson method.     

Measurement of CO2 sorption and PEG 1500 swelling by ATR-IR spectroscopy

In situ high-pressure ATR-IR spectroscopy was applied to simultaneously measure the sorption of CO₂ in polyethylene glycol (PEG) with molecular weight 1500 and the polymer swelling. The band at ca. 2338 cm⁻¹ corresponding to the antisymmetric stretching mode of CO₂ was used to calculate concentration of CO₂ dissolved in PEG while spectral bands of PEG at ca. 1100 cm⁻¹ were used to calculate swelling of PEG as a function of temperature and pressure. This in situ approach allowed to observe CO₂-induced melting of PEG and to assess intermolecular interactions between CO₂ and polymer.The solubility of CO₂ in PEG 1500 was influenced by both pressure and temperature. It remarkably increased with pressure until the CO₂ critical value, then it approached a plateau. Higher solubility was observed at the lower temperature.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of Gac oil

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng) aril was performed at pressures ranging from 200 to 400 bar, temperatures from 313 to 343 K and specific flow rates from 50 to 90 kg h⁻¹ CO₂ kg⁻¹ Gac aril. Total oil recovery and carotenes concentration were investigated in the course of extraction. Mathematical modelling of oil solubility data was also performed. The results showed that at specific flow rate of 70 kg h⁻¹ kg⁻¹, pressure of 400 bar and temperature of 343 K, Gac oil recovery exceeded 95% after 120 min of extraction. Gac oil loading of supercritical carbon dioxide was successfully described by Chrastil's model. Carotenes concentration of extracted Gac oil was found at level of thousands of ppm.     

Solubility and diffusion coefficient of supercritical-CO2 in polycarbonate and CO2 induced crystallization of polycarbonate

The solubility and diffusion coefficient of supercritical CO₂ in polycarbonate (PC) were measured using a magnetic suspension balance at sorption temperatures that ranged from 75 to 175 °C and at sorption pressures as high as 20 MPa. Above certain threshold pressures, the solubility of CO₂ decreased with time after showing a maximum value at a constant sorption temperature and pressure. This phenomenon indicated the crystallization of PC due to the plasticization effect of dissolved CO₂. A thorough investigation into the dependence of sorption temperature and pressure on the crystallinity of PC showed that the crystallization of PC occurred when the difference between the sorption temperature and the depressed glass transition temperature exceeded 40 °C (T − T_g ≥ 40 °C). Furthermore, the crystallization rate of PC was determined according to Avrami's equation. The crystallization rate increased with the sorption pressure and was at its maximum at a certain temperature under a constant pressure.     

Hydrogen storage in CO2-activated amorphous nanofibers and their monoliths

Amorphous carbon nanofibers (CNFs), produced by the polymer blend technique, are activated by CO₂ (ACNFs). Monoliths are synthesized from the precursor and from some ACNFs. Morphology and textural properties of these materials are studied. When compared with other activating agents (steam and alkaline hydroxides), CO₂ activation renders suitable yields and, contrarily to most other precursors, turns out to be advantageous for developing and controlling their narrow microporosity (<0.7 nm), V_DR(CO₂). The obtained ACNFs have a high compressibility and, consequently, a high packing density under mechanical pressure which can also be maintained upon monolith synthesis. H₂ adsorption is measured at two different conditions (77 K/0.11 MPa, and 298 K/20 MPa) and compared with other activated carbons. Under both conditions, H₂ uptake depends on the narrow microporosity of the prepared ACNFs. Interestingly, at room temperature these ACNFs perform better than other activated carbons, despite their lower porosity developments. At 298 K they reach a H₂ adsorption capacity as high as 1.3 wt.%, and a remarkable value of 1 wt.% in its mechanically resistant monolith form.     

Phase equilibrium of two CO2+ biodegradable oil systems up to 72 MPa

A setup based on a static visual synthetic method for determining phase equilibria up to 100 MPa is presented. Solubilities of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in a high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) and in an additivated vegetable lubricant (BIO-2T-05) were determined from 298 K to 363 K up to CO₂ mass compositions of 0.42. The experimental device was verified comparing the solubilities of CO₂ in HOSO with values from other laboratory. For both systems, the values of CO₂ solubility show cross-over pressures among the different isotherms. A new equation was used to correlate the solubility data, with deviations in CO₂ mole fraction in the oil-rich phase lower than 1.6%. The prediction ability of Carvalho and Coutinho equation was tested with experimental data. Vapor–liquid–liquid equilibria were also investigated for CO₂ + BIO-2T-05 in the range 288–305 K. Furthermore, densities and viscosities at 0.1 MPa for BIO-2T-05 were measured from 278 K to 373 K.