Prediction of thermodynamic, transport and vapor-liquid equilibrium properties of binary mixtures of ethylene glycol and water

Equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulation techniques were applied to predict various thermodynamic, transport and vapor-liquid equilibrium properties of binary mixtures of ethylene glycol and water (EG-W) based on OPLS-AA and SPC/E force fields. The properties predicted include density, vaporization enthalpy, enthalpy of mixing, heat capacities, diffusion coefficients, shear viscosities, thermal conductivities, vapor-liquid coexistence isotherms and isobaric curves, and saturation vapor pressures. Good agreements with experimental data were obtained for most of these properties. Errors are mostly related to inaccuracy found in predictions of pure fluids; a correction to prediction of pure substance can systematically improve prediction for the mixture. This work suggests that OPLS-AA and SPC/E force fields using the common combining rules are transferable for predicting multiple physical properties of EG-W mixtures.     

State conditions transferability of vapor–liquid equilibria via fluctuation solution theory with correlation function integrals from molecular dynamics simulation

The ‘State Conditions Transferability’ category of IFPSC 2006 tests prediction of binary vapor–liquid isotherms for mixtures of ethanol and the refrigerant HFF-227ea (1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane). We predict these isotherms using fluctuation solution theory (FST). The method is based on isobaric–isothermal molecular dynamics (NPT-MD) simulations, using force field parameters published in the literature and fitted CHARMM force field parameters. Systems studied previously [S. Christensen, G.H. Peters, F.Y. Hansen, J.P. O’Connell, J. Abildskov, Molecular Simulation 33 (2007) 449–457] comprise the nearly ideal benzene/methyl acetate system, and the less ideal benzene/ethanol system at ambient temperatures. Both are at low pressures and remote from the pure component critical points. For the IFPSC system, we have used the same method even though predictions are for conditions remote from those of the provided data, the pressures are elevated, and the temperatures are near the critical temperature of one of the components. We first describe the computational method and thermodynamic modeling for the entry submitted, which assumed the vapor was an ideal gas and no Poynting correction was included. Then we discuss the effects of using common modeling methods to estimate the effects of elevated pressures.     

Surface tension of polymer mixtures and copolymers

Contact angles θ of liquids of different polarity were measured on a series of mixtures of solid high polymers and a series of copolymers. The mixtures were composed of an alternating poly(ethylene-co-maleic anhydride) (EMA), and its addition product with n-octadecylamine, poly(ethylene-co-N-n-octadecylmaleamic acid) (EOM). The co-polymers were composed of the same monomeric units as the mixtures. The surface tension γ_s of EOM, calculated from θ by the Good-Fowkes-Owens-Wendt treatment, decreased slightly with increasing molecular weights and then reached a limiting value. Plots of γ_s against EOM concentration indicated large negative excess surface tension of the units with lower surface tension, EOM, in both series studied. For the mixture series, γ_a first sharply decreased with the EOM concentration; then it reached a limiting value, the γ_s of pure EOM, at a very low EOM concentration. This indicates phase separation of the two polymers, and the thickness of a monomolecular surface layer was calculated from these data. For the copolymers, γ_s varied logarithmically with the EOM concentration. Throughout the whole concentration range, the data fitted the equation developed by Belton and Evans for ideal mixtures.     

Molecular simulation and macroscopic modeling of the diffusion of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and water in heavy n-alkane mixtures

The self-diffusion coefficient of hydrogen (H(2)), carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H(2)O) in n-alkanes was studied by molecular dynamics simulation. Diffusion in a few pure n-alkanes (namely n-C(8), n-C(20), n-C(64) and n-C(96)) was examined. In addition, binary n-C(12)-n-C(96) mixtures with various compositions as well as more realistic five- and six-n-alkane component mixtures were simulated. In all cases, the TraPPE united atom force field was used for the n-alkane molecules. The force field for the mixture of n-alkanes was initially validated against experimental density values and was shown to be accurate. Moreover, macroscopic correlations for predicting diffusion coefficient of H(2), CO and H(2)O in n-alkanes and mixtures of n-alkanes were developed. The functional form of the correlation was based on the rough hard sphere theory (RHS). The correlation was applied to simulation data and an absolute average deviation (AAD) of 5.8% for pure n-alkanes and 3.4% for n-alkane mixtures was obtained. Correlation parameters vary in a systematic way with carbon number and so they can be used to provide predictions in the absence of any experimental or molecular simulation data. Finally, in order to reduce the number of adjustable parameters, for the n-alkane mixtures the "pseudo-carbon number" approach was used. This approach resulted in relatively higher deviation from MD simulation data (AAD of 18.2%); however, it provides a convenient and fast method to predict diffusion coefficients. The correlations developed here are expected to be useful for engineering calculations related to the design of the Gas-to-Liquid process.     

Bubble point pressure estimates from Gibbs ensemble simulations

Bubble pressure points of ethanol–1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ea refrigerant) mixtures from the third Industrial Fluid Properties Simulation Challenge are computed using publicly available molecular simulation software. Several published force fields are compared against the known answers provided in the contest guidelines and the best force fields are used to make predictions for the unknown results.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of a poly(oxyethylene) chain dissolved in benzene

Molecular dynamics simulations of pure benzene and a poly(oxyethylene) chain in benzene are performed. The simulation of pure benzene is found to agree excellently with previous simulations despite using a different force field. A comparison is made between the results of simulations of the poly(oxyethylene) chain in benzene and in water and of stochastic simulations with respect to mean torsional angles, trans/gauche fractions, and transition rates. Characteristic deviations are found for the simulation in water and explained by specific atomic interactions, while there is satisfactory agreement with a stochastic simulation based upon the simple Langevin equation using a friction coefficient of 1 ps^?1. The characteristic ratio of poly(oxyethylene) in benzene is calculated on the basis of the rotational isomeric state model. © 1992 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Study of the thermal diffusion behavior of alkane/benzene mixtures by thermal diffusion forced rayleigh scattering experiments and lattice model calculations

In this work the thermal diffusion behavior of binary mixtures of linear alkanes (heptane, nonane, undecane, tridecane, pentadecane, heptadecane) in benzene has been investigated by thermal diffusion forced Rayleigh scattering (TDFRS) for a range of concentrations and temperatures. The Soret coefficient ST of the alkane was found to be negative for these n-alkane/benzene mixtures indicating that the alkanes are enriched in the warmer regions of the liquid mixtures. For the compositions investigated in this work, the magnitude of the Soret coefficient decreases with increasing chain length and increasing alkane content of the mixtures. The temperature dependence of the Soret coefficient depends on mixture composition and alkane chain length; the slope of ST versus temperature changes from positive to negative with increasing chain length at intermediate compositions. To study the influence of molecular architecture on the Soret effect, mixtures of branched alkanes (2-methylhexane, 3-methylhexane, 2,3-dimethylpentane, 2,4-dimethylpentane, 2,2,3-trimethylbutane, and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane) in benzene were also investigated. Our results for the Soret coefficients show that the tendency for the alkanes to move to the warmer regions of the fluid decreases with increasing degree of branching. The branching effect is so strong that for 2,2,4-trimethylpentane/benzene mixtures the Soret coefficient changes sign at high alkane content and that equimolar 2,2,3-trimethylbutane/benzene mixtures have positive Soret coefficients in the investigated temperature range. In order to investigate the effect of molecular interactions on thermal diffusion, we adapted a recently developed two-chamber lattice model to n-alkane/benzene mixtures. The model includes the effects of chain-length, compressibility, and orientation dependence of benzene-benzene interactions and yields good qualitative predictions for the Soret effect in n-alkane/benzene mixtures. For the branched isomers, we find some correlations between the moments of inertia of the molecules and the Soret coefficients. PACS numbers: 66.10.Cb, 61.25.Hq.     

Self-diffusion of polystyrene in solution 1. Experimental results of the NMR pulsed field gradient technique

We report self-diffusion measurements for polystyrene dissolved in benzene and chloroform using the NMR pulsed field gradient technique. The observed echo attenuations point to dynamic exchange processes or cluster formation in the semidilute solution. The experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions from the reptation mechanism and the blob theory. There is qualitative agreement, but a more comprehensive analysis of the data and results from experiments with polymer mixtures show that polymer self diffusion in semidilute solutions cannot be explained by the reptation mechanism in its simple form.     

Simulation of the (vapor + liquid) equilibria of binary mixtures of benzene,cyclohexane, and hydrogen

Molecular simulations of the (vapor + liquid) equilibria (VLE) for benzene, cyclohexane, and (benzene + hydrogen) and (cyclohexane + hydrogen) were carried out using the Gibbs-ensemble Monte Carlo method with configurational bias. The Buckingham exponential six (exp-6) potential was used for the site–site interactions with no binary interaction parameters; benzene and cyclohexane were described with six interaction sites, and hydrogen with a single site. Simulation results, density, pressure, and vaporization enthalpy for benzene and cyclohexane were in reasonable agreement with experimental data, but critical pressures obtained from extrapolation of the VLE results did not match the experimental values. For (benzene + hydrogen) and (cyclohexane + hydrogen) mixtures mole fractions from simulation were compared with experimental data, the results for liquid phase were in closer agreement with experiment than the results for vapor phase. For the mixtures, results from the PSRK equation of state (PSRK-EOS) predicted the mole fractions for both phases, also vapor densities from molecular simulation were in close agreement with PSRK-EOS. Additionally, the Henry’s law constant (K_H) for hydrogen was calculated in separate simulations using test particle insertions, and qualitative agreement with values from experimental VLE data was obtained. For the (benzene + hydrogen) system K_H results from PSRK-EOS were closer to experiment than the results from simulation, but, for the (cyclohexane + hydrogen) system results from both methods had similar deviations from experiment. The results for pure substance and mixtures indicate that the combination of the three molecular models used for benzene, cyclohexane, and hydrogen is valid for the simulation of the VLE of their mixtures.     

Theoretical prediction of vibrational spectra. The a priori scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) force field and vibrational spectra of pyrimidine

The complete harmonic force field of pyrimidine has been computed at the ab initio Hartree—Fock level using a 4–21 Gaussian basis set. In order to compensate the systematic overestimations of the force constants at the aforementioned level of quantum mechanical approximation, the theoretical force constants were empirically scaled by using nine scale factors. (The values of all these scale factors were previously determined by fitting the theoretical force field of benzene to the observed vibrational spectra of benzene.) The resulting a priori scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) force field is regarded as the most accurate and physically the most correct harmonic force field for pyrimidine. This force field was then used to predict the vibrational spectra of pyrimidine-h₄ and pyrimidine-d₄. On the basis of these a priori vibrational spectra uncertain assignments have been confidently resolved. After a few reassignments, the mean deviations between the experimental and calculated frequencies are below 9 and 18 cm⁻¹ for the non-CH stretching in-plane and the out-of-plane vibrations, respectively. Computed IR intensities are generally in agreement with experiments at a qualitative level.     

A partition function‐based weighting scheme in force field parameter development using ab initio calculation results in global configurational space

In force field parameter development using ab initio potential energy surfaces (PES) as target data, an important but often neglected matter is the lack of a weighting scheme with optimal discrimination power to fit the target data. Here, we developed a novel partition function‐based weighting scheme, which not only fits the target potential energies exponentially like the general Boltzmann weighting method, but also reduces the effect of fitting errors leading to overfitting. The van der Waals (vdW) parameters of benzene and propane were reparameterized by using the new weighting scheme to fit the high‐level ab initio PESs probed by a water molecule in global configurational space. The molecular simulation results indicate that the newly derived parameters are capable of reproducing experimental properties in a broader range of temperatures, which supports the partition function‐based weighting scheme. Our simulation results also suggest that structural properties are more sensitive to vdW parameters than partial atomic charge parameters in these systems although the electrostatic interactions are still important in energetic properties. As no prerequisite conditions are required, the partition function‐based weighting method may be applied in developing any types of force field parameters. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Parameterization of a coarse-grained model of cholesterol with point-dipole electrostatics

We present a new coarse-grained (CG) model of cholesterol (CHOL) for the electrostatic-based ELBA force field. A distinguishing feature of our CHOL model is that the electrostatics is modeled by an explicit point dipole which interacts through an ideal vacuum permittivity. The CHOL model parameters were optimized in a systematic fashion, reproducing the electrostatic and nonpolar partitioning free energies of CHOL in lipid/water mixtures predicted by full-detailed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The CHOL model has been validated by comparison to structural, dynamic and thermodynamic properties with experimental and atomistic simulation reference data. The simulation of binary DPPC/cholesterol mixtures covering the relevant biological content of CHOL in mammalian membranes is shown to correctly predict the main lipid behavior as observed experimentally.     

Pressure dependence of the vapor-liquid-liquid phase behavior in ternary mixtures consisting of n-alkanes, n-perfluoroalkanes, and carbon dioxide

Expansion of an organic solvent by an inert gas can be used to tune the solvent's liquid density, solubility strength, and transport properties. In particular, gas expansion can be used to induce miscibility at low temperatures for solvent combinations that are biphasic at standard pressure. Configurational-bias Monte Carlo simulations in the Gibbs ensemble were carried out to investigate the vapor-liquid-liquid equilibria and microscopic structures for two ternary systems: n-decane/n-perfluorohexane/CO2 and n-hexane/n-perfluorodecane/CO2. These simulations employed the united-atom version of the transferable potential for phase equilibria (TraPPE-UA) force field. Initial simulations for binary mixtures of n-alkanes and n-perfluoroalkanes showed that special mixing parameters are required for the unlike interactions of CHx and CFy pseudoatoms to yield satisfactory results. The calculated upper critical solution pressures for the ternary mixtures at a temperature of 298 K are in excellent agreement with the available experimental data and predictions using the SAFT-VR (statistical associating fluid theory of variable range) equation of state. The simulations yield asymmetric compositions for the coexisting liquid phases and different degrees of microheterogeneity as measured by local mole fraction enhancements.     

Vapour—liquid equilibrium of the system benzene + cyclohexane + 1-propanol at 760 mm Hg

Arce, A., Blanco, A. and Tojo, J., 1986. Vapour—liquid equilibrium of the system benzene + cyclohexane + 1-propanol at 760 mm Hg. Fluid Phase Equilibria, 26: 69–81.Vapour—liquid equilibrium data for the mixture benzene + cyclohexane + 1-propanol at a constant pressure of 760 mm Hg have been determined experimentally and predicted using the group contribution methods UNIFAC and ASOG and the NRTL, UNIQUAC and Wilson equations (with correlation parameters obtained from data for the corresponding binary mixtures). The various predictions are compared and evaluated in the light of the experimental results.     

Combination of the CHARMM27 force field with united-atom lipid force fields

Computer simulations offer a valuable way to study membrane systems, from simple lipid bilayers to large transmembrane protein complexes and lipid-nucleic acid complexes for drug delivery. Their accuracy depends on the quality of the force field parameters used to describe the components of a particular system. We have implemented the widely used CHARMM22 and CHARMM27 force fields in the GROMACS simulation package to (i) combine the CHARMM22 protein force field with two sets of united-atom lipids parameters; (ii) allow comparisons of the lipid CHARMM27 force field with other lipid force fields or lipid-protein force field combinations. Our tests do not show any particular issue with the combination of the all-atom CHARMM22 force field with united-atoms lipid parameters, although pertinent experimental data are lacking to assess the quality of the lipid-protein interactions. The conversion utilities allow automatic generation of GROMACS simulation files with CHARMM nucleic acids and protein parameters and topologies, starting from pdb files using the standard GROMACS pdb2gmx method. CMAP is currently not implemented.     

An approximate valence force field for benzenetricarbonylchromium

An approximate valence force field has been calculated for benzenetricarbonylchromium, using data from (C₆H₆)Cr(CO)₃ and (C₆D₆)Cr(CO)₃. Significant changes were found in a number of benzene internal force constants on complexation, which were consistent with a bonding model for benzenetricarbonylchromium in which the benzene ring acts as a net electron donor to the Cr atom.     

Reverse nonequilibrium molecular dynamics calculation of the Soret coefficient in liquid heptane/benzene mixtures

We studied the thermal diffusion behavior of mixtures of benzene and heptane isomers by reverse nonequilibrium molecular dynamics. For n-heptane/benzene mixtures, we investigated the concentration dependence of the Soret coefficient. The Soret coefficient for equimolar mixtures of the three heptane isomers 3-methylhexane, 2,3-dimethylpentane, and 2,4-dimethylpentane in benzene has been calculated. Compared to the experimental data, the simulation results show the same trend in dependence of the mole fraction and degree of branching. The negative Soret coefficient indicates the enrichment of alkanes in the warm side. In the case of the heptane isomers in benzene, we could study the influence of the difference in shape and size on the thermal diffusion behavior at constant mass. In the simulation as well as in the experiment, we found that the Soret coefficients become higher with increasing degree of branching. Such behavior cannot be explained only by mass and size effects. The effect of the molecular shape needs to be considered additionally.     

Self-assembly of a dialkylurea gelator in organic solvents in the presence of centrifugal and shearing forces

A novel dialkylurea gelator, 1-methyl-2,4-bis(N(')-octadecaneureido)benzene (designated as MBOB) was synthesized, which can turn some organic solvents into organogels at extremely low concentrations (<2 wt%). The (1)H NMR spectra of MBOB in solution (110 degrees C) and in the gel state (30 degrees C) indicate that intermolecular hydrogen bonding is the driving force for the self-assembly of MBOB. In the process of the self-assembly of MBOB, orientation of MBOB aggregates occurs under the influence of external fields, such as a centrifugal force and shearing force fields. The minimum gelation concentrations of MBOB in organic solvents under a centrifugal force field were significantly higher than those in the absence of a centrifugal force field, indicating a significant effect of the external field on the self-assembly of MBOB. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) provided evidence for a significantly phase transition of the MBOB aggregates from an amorphous state in the absence of the external field to an oriented state under conditions of a centrifugal or shearing force during the gelation process. A self-assembled structure of MBOB is proposed based upon an X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and a molecular simulation. DSC analysis of the organogels indicates that the phase transition temperature increased from 58.5 degrees C in the absence of the external field to 63.3 degrees C under a centrifugal force field and 62.2 degrees C under a shearing force field. The enthalpy of the phase transition decreased from 3.1 J/g in the absence of an external field to 2.6 J/g under a centrifugal force field and 2.7 J/g under a shearing force field.     

Positronium interactions in organic solvents

In the present work, the chemistry of the positronium (Ps) species has been investigated in pure benzene, pyridine and their mixtures with pyridine concentrations at 4.12, 6.18 and 8.24 M, respectively, using the Doppler-broadened line-shape analysis technique. It is seen that the intensities of the para-(p-Ps) and ortho-Ps (o-Ps) in benzene and that of p-Ps in pyridine follow the Ore-model predictions while the intensity of o-Ps in pyridine is much lower than expected from this model. On the basis of these observations and of decrease in the o-Ps lifetime with increasing pyridine concentration in various organic solvents as reported in literature, it is concluded that pick-off is not the only quenching mechanism for Ps in organic solvents and pyridine is a quencher of Ps-species rather than an inhibitor. Calculations carried out considering a diffusion-controlled mechanism of Ps-quenching in pyridine via unstable (dissociative) complex/adduct formation and the bubble model show that the quenching rate is diffusion controlled and the pick-off rate is in accordance with the free-volume model. These conclusions were confirmed in the mixtures of benzene and pyridine.