Solubilities of poly(ethylene glycol)s in the mixtures of supercritical carbon dioxide and cosolvent

The solubilities of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG6000) (M.W.=7500) in the mixtures consisting of supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) and cosolvent have been measured by observing the cloud points at 313.15 K and 16 MPa. Ethanol and toluene were used as cosolvents. The solubility of PEG6000 is extremely low in either CO2 or ethanol, but becomes about 20 wt.% in a mixture of the two. The maximum solubility is achieved at about 50 wt.% (polymer-free) ethanol. The solubilities of PEG6000 in the mixtures of supercritical CO2 and the cosolvent have been correlated by a regular solution model using the local compositions of solvents around a solute molecule, and an expanded liquid equation of state model.