(2015) The A in SAFT: developing the contribution of association to the Helmholtz free energy within a Wertheim TPT1 treatment of generic Mie fluids, Molecular Physics, 113:9-10, 948-984, DOI: 10.1080/00268976.2015 An accurate representation of molecular association is a vital ingredient of advanced equations of state (EOSs), providing a description of thermodynamic properties of complex fluids where hydrogen bonding plays an important role. The combination of the first-order thermodynamic perturbation theory (TPT1) of Wertheim for associating systems with an accurate description of the structural and thermodynamic properties of the monomer fluid forms the basis of the statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT) family of EOSs. The contribution of association to the free energy in SAFT and related EOSs is very sensitive to the nature of intermolecular potential used to describe the monomers and, crucially, to the accuracy of the representation of the thermodynamic and structural properties. Here we develop an accurate description of the association contribution for use within the recently developed SAFT-VR Mie framework for chain molecules formed from segments interacting through a Mie potential [T. Lafitte, A. Apostolakou, C. Avendaño, A, Galindo, C. S. Adjiman, E. A. Müller, and G. Jackson, J. Chem. Phys. 139, 154504 (2013)]. As the Mie interaction represents a soft-core potential model, a method similar to that adopted for the Lennard-Jones potential [E. A. Müller and K. E. Gubbins, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 34, 3662 (1995)] is employed to describe the association contribution to the Helmholtz free energy. The radial distribution function (RDF) of the Mie fluid (which is required for the evaluation of the integral at the heart of the association term) is determined for a broad range of thermodynamic conditions (temperatures and densities) using the reference hyper-netted chain (RHNC) integral-equation theory. The numerical data for the association kernel of Mie fluids with different association geometries are then correlated for a range of thermodynamic states to obtain a general expression for the association contribution which can be applied for varying values of the Mie repulsive exponent. The resulting SAFT-VR Mie EOS allows for a much improved description of the vapour-liquid equilibria and single-phase properties of associating fluids such as water, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, and their mixtures. A comparison is also made between the theoretical predictions of the degree of association for water and the extent of hydrogen bonding obtained from molecular simulations of the SPC/E and TIP4P/2005 atomistic models.

Group contribution (GC) approaches are based on the premise that the properties of a molecule or a mixture can be determined from the appropriate contributions of the functional chemical groups present in the system of interest. Although this is clearly an approximation, GC methods can provide accurate estimates of the properties of many systems and are often used as predictive tools when experimental data are scarce or not available. Our focus is on the SAFT-γ Mie approach [Papaioannou, V.; Lafitte, T.; Avendaño, C.; Adjiman, C. S.; Jackson, G.; Müller, E. A.; Galindo, A. Group contribution methodology based on the statistical associating fluid theory for heteronuclear molecules formed from Mie segments. J. Chem. Phys. 2014, 140, 054107–29] which incorporates a detailed heteronuclear molecular model specifically designed for use as a GC thermodynamic platform. It is based on a formulation of the recent statistical associating fluid theory for Mie potentials of variable range, where a formal statistical–mechanical perturbation theory is used to maintain a firm link between the molecular model and the macroscopic thermodynamic properties. Here we summarize the current status of the SAFT-γ Mie approach, presenting a compilation of the parameters for all functional groups developed to date and a number of new groups. Examples of the capability of the GC method in describing experimental data accurately are provided, both as a correlative and as a predictive tool for the phase behavior and the thermodynamic properties of a broad range of complex fluids.

13/01/15 meb. Accepted version Ok to add after 12 months embarg

An extension of the PPC-SAFT equation of state to treat strong electrolyte aqueous solutions is presented. It is capable of describing the behavior of such systems up to 473 K with a good precision and without requiring temperature-dependent model parameters. Long-range Coulombic interactions are taken into account using the mean spherical approximation (MSA) for a primitive model of the electrolyte solution, and the effect of solvation is described using short-range ion–water interactions mediated through association sites. Pairing between anions and cations is also treated through site–site interactions. A Born term is added to describe the change of dielectric constant resulting from solvation. A single ion-specific, temperature-independent model parameters are used, for 20 alkali-halide aqueous solutions. The Pauling ionic diameters are used for all terms (hard sphere, MSA, and Born). The dispersion energy of the ions is considered negligible. In the resulting ePPC-SAFT model, only the water–ion association energy is considered as an adjustable parameter. The results show coherent energy density behavior with respect to ionic size. The approach allows the calculation of the mean ionic activity coefficient, density, or vapor pressure of the aqueous solutions over a wide range of temperatures and molalities (298–573 K and 0–6 m). Moreover, salting out of carbon dioxide and methane in saline water can also be predicted accurately. A discussion of the changes in ion hydration at different salinity is also presented taking advantage of the model proposed that explicitly includes ion–water site–site interactions.