Simultaneous estimation of phase behavior and second-derivative properties using the statistical associating fluid theory with variable range approach.

A modified statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT) with variable range version is presented using the family of m-n Mie potentials. The use of this intermolecular potential for modeling repulsion-dispersion interactions between the monomer segments, together with a new method for optimizing the molecular parameters of the equation of state, is found to give a very accurate description of both vapor-liquid equilibria and compressed liquid bulk properties (volumetric and derivative properties) for long-chain n-alkanes. This new equation improves other SAFT-like equations of state which fail to describe derivative properties such as the isothermal compressibility and the speed of sound in the condensed liquid phase. Emphasis is placed on pointing out that the key for modeling the latter properties is the use of a variable repulsive term in the intermolecular potential. In the case of the n-alkanes series, a clear dependence of the characteristic molecular parameters on increasing chain length is obtained, demonstrating their sound physical meaning and the consistency of the new fitting procedure proposed. This systematic method for optimizing the model parameters includes data on the saturation line as well as densities and speed of sound data in the condensed liquid phase, and the results show undoubtedly that the model performance is enhanced and its range of applicability is now widened, keeping in any case a good balance between the accuracy of the different estimated properties.