Phase equilibria for supercritical fluid process design

Supercritical fluids (SCF's) are powerful solvents with many unique properties. They have great potential for many extraction processes, but reliable and versatile mathematical models of the phase equilibrium thermodynamics are needed for their use in process design and economic feasibility studies. This paper reviews existing experimental data and analytical methods and attempts to delineate their strengths and limitations. Also discussed are new data needs and possible new directions for a better fundamental understanding of the molecular processes in SCF solutions.