Phase equilibrium determination of the binary system globalide + pressured propane: Experiments and thermodynamic modeling

Abstract

Globalide is a macrolactone used recently as a monomer in polymerization processes in several kinds of research due to its ability to produce biodegradable and biocompatible polyesters suitable for applications in biodegradable packaging and biomedical devices. Polymerization processes traditionally use organic solvents and metallic/chemical catalysts that may leave toxic residues in the final polymer. To obtain polymers free of organic solvents, the use of pressurized gases as green solvents has been investigated. In this context, knowing the phase behavior of these systems is essential to understand the proper conditions of the polymerization process, ensuring that the reaction occurs in single-phase conditions. This work reports phase equilibrium studies of Gl + propane systems at temperatures of 313.15, 323.15, 333.15, and 343.15 K, and propane mass fractions between 0.1 and 0.9001. All observed phase transitions occur in pressures lower than 2.5 MPa, indicating that propane is a solvent that requires less energy expenditure than systems with CO2, being an economic advantage in the polymerization process. Peng-Robinson equation of state with a constant binary interaction parameter adjusted adjustment to the experimental data well.