Experimental determination of the (vapor + liquid) equilibrium data of binary mixtures of fatty acids by differential scanning calorimetry

Abstract

(Vapor + liquid) equilibrium (VLE) data for three binary mixtures of saturated fatty acids were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). However, changes in the calorimeter pressure cell and the use of hermetic pans with holes ( ϕ = 250 mm) in the lids were necessary to make it possible to apply this analytical technique, obtaining accurate results with smaller samples and shorter operational times. The systems evaluated in this study were: myristic acid (C 14:0) + palmitic acid (C 16:0), myristic acid (C 14:0) + stearic acid (C 18:0), and palmitic acid (C 16:0) + stearic acid (C 18:0), all measured at 50 mm Hg and with mole fractions between 0.0 and 1.0 in relation to the most volatile component of each diagram. The fugacity coefficients for the components in the vapor phase were calculated using the Hayden and O’Connell method [J.G. Hayden, J.P. O’Connell, Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Design Develop. 14 (3) (1975) 209–216] and the activity coefficients for the liquid phase were correlated with the traditional g E models (NRTL [H. Renon, J.M. Prausnitz, Aiche J. 14 (1968) 135–144], UNIQUAC [D.S. Abrams, J.M. Prausnitz, Aiche J. 21 (1975) 116–128], and Wilson [J.M. Prausnitz, N.L. Linchtenthaler, E.G. Azevedo, Molecular Thermodynamics of Fluid-phase Equilibria, River-Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle, 1999]). The sets of parameters were then compared in order to determine which adjustments best represented the VLE.