Improved Stokes–Einstein based models for diffusivities in supercritical CO2

Binary Diffusion Coefficients for Short Chain Alcohols in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide-Experimental and Predictive Correlations

Experimental binary diffusion coefficients for short-chain alcohols in supercritical carbon dioxide were measured using the Taylor dispersion technique in a temperature range of 306.15 K to 331.15 K and along the 10.5 MPa isobar. The obtained diffusion coefficients were in the order of 10^-8 m² s^-1. The dependence of D on temperature and solvent density was examined together with the influence of molecular size. Some classic correlation models based on the hydrodynamic and free volume theory were used to estimate the diffusion coefficients in supercritical carbon dioxide. Predicted values were generally overestimated in comparison with experimental ones and correlations were shown to be valid only in high-density regions.

FTIR as a Powerful Tool for Measurements of Diffusion in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Using Taylor Dispersion Method

A new experimental high-pressure setup for measuring diffusion coefficients in supercritical fluids, based on Taylor dispersion method, and using an FTIR detector to operate up to 25.0 MPa was designed and optimized. Tracer diffusivities, D12, of toluene and benzene in supercritical carbon dioxide were measured in the temperature range of 306.15–320.15 K, and pressure range of 7.5–17 MPa to evaluate the setup and experimental protocol. The effects of flow velocity, volume of the cell, absorbance at different wavenumbers on the diffusion coefficient as well as all parameters respecting the Taylor dispersion method have been analyzed. The obtained diffusion coefficients are in excellent agreement with the available literature data. The dependence of D12 on temperature, pressure, and solvent density were examined. Some correlation models based on the hydrodynamic theory were used to estimate the diffusion coefficients in supercritical carbon dioxide, which is the best agreement obtained for an improved version of the Wilke–Chang model.

Diffusion of Ethanol in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide—Investigation of scCO2-Cosolvent Mixtures Used in Pharmaceutical Applications

Diffusion coefficients, D, for ethanol in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) were measured in the temperature range 306.15–331.15 K and along the 10.5 MPa isobar, using the Taylor dispersion technique. The obtained diffusivities ranged from 1.49 × 10−8 to 2.98 × 10−8 m2 s−1, an order of magnitude higher than in usual liquids. The dependence of D on temperature and solvent density was examined. Various correlation models based in the hydrodynamic theory were assessed to estimate the diffusion coefficients, with reasonable results obtained for the Wilke–Chang and Lai–Tan models.