Wettability/spreading of alkanes at the water–gas interface at elevated temperatures and pressures

The Hamaker–Lifshitz theory is used to calculate the spreading coefficient of alkanes on water or brine at elevated temperatures and pressures. The dielectric polarizability at elevated temperature and pressure is estimated as a function of density through the Clausius–Mosotti equation. When complete data is not available, the wetting transition can be estimated from the refractive index at elevated temperatures and pressures. The spreading of alkanes on brine can also be estimated from the refractive index of the brine as a function of electrolyte concentration. The approach used here for alkanes is also used to estimate the conditions for the spreading of H2S between water and sulfur.