Modelling of high-pressure phase equilibria using the Sako–Wu–Prausnitz equation of state: II. Vapour–liquid equilibria and liquid–liquid equilibria in polyolefin systems

Phase equilibria in binary and ternary polyolefin systems are calculated using the cubic equation of state proposed by Sako–Wu–Prausnitz (SWP). Calculations were done for high-pressure phase equilibria in ethylene/polyethylene (LDPE) systems and for liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE) in systems containing either high-density polyethylene or poly(ethylene-co-propylene). The calculations for the copolymer/solvent systems are compared with those using the SAFT EOS. The two equations of state can describe UCST, LCST as well as U-LCST behaviour with similar accuracy. Whereas, the binary interaction parameter is temperature-independent for SAFT, it is found to be a function of temperature for the SWP model. Moreover, the influence of an inert gas on the LCST of the polyethylene/hexane system is investigated using the SWP EOS. The polydispersity of the different polyethylenes is considered in the phase equilibrium calculations using pseudocomponents chosen by the moments of the experimental molecular weight distributions.