PVT Measurements for Pure Ethanol in the Near-Critical and Supercritical Regions

The PVT properties of pure ethanol were measured in the near-critical and supercritical regions. Measurements were made using a constant-volume piezometer immersed in a precision thermostat. The uncertainty of the density measurements was estimated to be 0.15%. The uncertainties of the temperature and pressure measurements were, respectively, 15 mK and 0.05%. Measurements were made along various near-critical isotherms between 373 and 673 K and at densities from 91.81 to 497.67 kg · m⁻³. The pressure range was from 0.226 to 40.292 MPa. Using two-phase PVT results, the values of the saturated-liquid and -vapor densities and the vapor pressure for temperatures between 373.15 and 513.15 K were obtained by means of an analytical extrapolation technique. The measured PVT data and saturated properties for pure ethanol were compared with values calculated from a fundamental equation of state and correlations, and with experimental data reported by other authors. The values of the critical parameters (T _C,P _C,ρ _C) were derived from the measured values of saturated densities and vapor pressure near the critical point. The derived values of the saturated densities near the critical point for ethanol were interpreted in term of the “complete scaling” theory.