Phase equilibria of carbon dioxide + poly ethylene glycol + water mixtures at high pressure: Measurements and modelling

Phase equilibria of carbon dioxide + poly ethylene glycol (PEG) of average mol weight 6000 g/mol + water mixtures has been measured by the static method at conditions of interest for the development of Particles from Gas Saturated Solutions (PGSS)-drying processes (pressure from 10 MPa to 30 MPa, temperature from 353 K to 393 K). A thermodynamic model based on the Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT) equation of state has been developed for correlating experimental data. The model is able to predict the composition of the liquid phase with an average deviation of 8.0%. However, the model does not calculate correctly the concentration of PEG in the gas phase. The model is also capable of predicting VLE data reported in the literature of PEG + CO2 mixtures with PEGs of molecular weights ranging from 1500 g/mol to 18500 g/mol as well as solid–fluid equilibrium of carbon dioxide + PEG mixtures at pressures below 10 MPa.