Correlation of solid solubilities for phenolic compounds and steroids in supercritical carbon dioxide using the solution model

The solid solubilities of phenolic compounds and steroids in supercritical carbon dioxide were correlated in this study using the solution model in its dimensionless form. The molar volume of solid solutes in supercritical carbon dioxide ((V) under bar (2)) was taken as an adjustable parameter in this solution model. Their values for various solid solutes were determined from experimental solubility data at various temperatures and pressures. The (V) under bar (2) parameters were well correlated with the densities of supercritical carbon dioxide. This correlation was further generalized to predict the solubility of complex solid in supercritical carbon dioxide. The applicability of the solution model was presented in this study for two categories of phenolic and steroid compounds. The solution model with less parameters yielded comparably satisfactory results to those from commonly used semi-empirical models. The solution model with generalized parameters also yielded acceptable predicted results for these complex compounds. (C) 2010 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.