Modelagem e simulação do fracionamento de correntes líquidas utilizando dióxido de carbono supercrítico

Abstract

The Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SCF) technology is currently been used as an important and new method of certain chemical process, such as separation, purification and deodorization in food industries and distilleries, as well as for applications in analytical chemistry. With this technology is possible to observe positive points such as a small impact in the environment, low toxicity of the residues and high-quality final product. Supercritical carbon dioxide, among the SCF used as solvents, is mostly used due to its low critical parameters and non-toxic, non-flammable and non-polluting properties, besides being cheap and available in large amount. Before the extraction process is carried out, it is necessary to understand and define the phase equilibrium and the ideal process conditions in order to reduce the number of experiments and process costs. Theses parameters could be determined by using Cubic Equations of State (EOS) combined with equations of mixing rules through computer programs. In this work, it was evaluated whether the Soave-Redlich-Kwong and Peng Robinson EOS combined with Quadratic Mixing Rules with 1 or 2 binary interaction parameters are efficient to predict the phase equilibrium of vegetable oil blends at high pressures. Using the EDEFlash program, the binary interaction parameters and phase equilibrium of binary systems, as well as the determination of the phase equilibrium of multicomponent systems were determinate and with these data a thermodynamic separation analysis was carried out, in other words, it was determined in which phase (liquid or vapor) the component of interest will be obtained.