Hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants are being phased out over the next two decades due to concerns about high global warming potential. In order to separate refrigerant mixtures that form azeotropes, new technologies will be required. Currently, fractional distillation is unable to efficiently separate azeotropic refrigerant mixtures. Extractive distillation using an ionic liquid as the entrainer offers a solution. Vapor–liquid equilibria data for refrigerants difluoromethane (HFC-32), pentafluoroethane (HFC-125), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a), chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), propane (HC-290), and isobutane (HC-600a) and ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C4C1im][PF6]) was regressed using the Peng–Robinson equation of state with the van der Waals 1-parameter mixing rule and Boston–Mathias nonideal correction. Process flow diagrams using ASPEN simulations were prepared for demonstrating how multicomponent mixtures of these refrigerants can be separated. Opportunities for measuring and modeling the solubility of new refrigerants in ionic liquids are discussed, and challenges remain for effectively separating some azeotropic refrigerant mixtures containing hydrofluorocarbons and hydrocarbons.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.