Distribution of MEG and methanol in well-defined hydrocarbon and water systems: Experimental measurement and modeling using the CPA EoS

Liquid-liquid equilibria data for two binary and two ternary systems are reported in the temperature range of 303.15-323.15. K at atmospheric pressure. The binary systems measured are n-nonane + MEG and ethylbenzene + MEG and the ternary systems are n-nonane + MEG + water and ethylbenzene + MEG + water.

These data are satisfactorily correlated (binaries) and predicted (ternaries) using Cubic Plus Association (CPA) equation of state (EoS). CPA is also applied to binary LLE of aromatic hydrocarbon + water and VLE of methane + methanol. Finally the distribution of water and inhibitors (methanol and MEG) in various phases is modeled using CPA.

The hydrocarbon phase consists of mixture-1 (methane, ethane, n-butane) or mixture-2 (methane, ethane, propane, n-butane, n-heptane, toluene and n-decane). CPA can satisfactorily predict the water content in the gas phase of the multicomponent systems containing mixture-1 over a range of temperatures and pressures.

Similarly the methanol content in the gas phase of mixture-1 + water + methanol systems is predicted satisfactorily with accuracy within experimental uncertainty. For VLLE of mixture-2. +. water, mixture-2 + MEG + water and mixture-2 + methanol + water systems, the organic phase compositions are satisfactorily predicted whereas modeling results are relatively less satisfactory for the vapor phase compositions partially due to uncertainties in the experimental data. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.