Computation of the excess entropy (Formula presented.) from the second-order density expansion of the entropy holds strictly for infinite systems in the limit of small densities. For the reliable and efficient computation of (Formula presented.) it is important to understand finite-size effects. Here, expressions to compute (Formula presented.) and Kirkwood–Buff (KB) integrals by integrating the Radial Distribution Function (RDF) in a finite volume are derived, from which (Formula presented.) and KB integrals in the thermodynamic limit are obtained. The scaling of these integrals with system size is studied. We show that the integrals of (Formula presented.) converge faster than KB integrals. We compute (Formula presented.) from Monte Carlo simulations using the Wang–Ramírez–Dobnikar–Frenkel pair interaction potential by thermodynamic integration and by integration of the RDF. We show that (Formula presented.) computed by integrating the RDF is identical to that of (Formula presented.) computed from thermodynamic integration at low densities, provided the RDF is extrapolated to the thermodynamic limit. At higher densities, differences up to (Formula presented.) are observed.

Nitric oxide, NO, is a free radical that forms dimers, (NO)2, at its vapor–liquid coexisting temperatures. In this work, we developed an all-atom force field for NO and (NO)2. To assess the performance of this force field, we computed the vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) properties of the reactive NO–(NO)2 system, as well as those of pure NO and pure (NO)2, using Continuous Fractional Component Monte Carlo (CFCMC) simulations. We then compared the results with the available experimental data and predictions from two previously developed force fields. For the reactive NO–(NO)2 system, we performed CFCMC simulations in the reactive Gibbs ensemble in which the formation of NO dimers, 2NO ⇌ (NO)2, is considered. The predicted coexistence vapor–liquid densities, dimer mole fractions in the liquid phase, saturated vapor pressures, and heats of vaporization using our force field in the temperature range 120 K to 170 K are in excellent agreement with experimental values. In addition, we conducted a systematic parameter study to analyze the sensitivity of the new force field parameters and the isolated molecule partition functions of (NO)2 on the VLE properties of the reactive NO–(NO)2 system. The results indicate that the VLE properties of the reactive NO–(NO)2 system are affected by both the force field parameters of the involved species as well as the isolated molecule partition functions of (NO)2.

Shape-selective adsorption in zeolites plays a pivotal role in catalytic hydroisomerization of long-chain alkanes, a key process in producing sustainable aviation fuels from Fischer–Tropsch products. Accurately predicting adsorption behavior for the large number of alkane isomers in different zeolite frameworks is computationally intensive. To address this, we have developed a machine learning framework that rapidly and accurately predicts Henry coefficients of linear (C1–C30) and branched (C4–C20) alkanes in one-dimensional zeolites. Using descriptors based on chain length, branching patterns, and molecular graphs, we evaluate multiple ML models, including Random Forest, XGBoost, CatBoost, TabPFN, and D-MPNN in MTT-, MTW-, MRE-, and AFI-type zeolites. TabPFN and D-MPNN offer the highest predictive accuracy. Active learning further boosts model performance by efficiently selecting diverse and structurally informative isomers. We also uncover activity cliffs, where small changes in molecular structure lead to sharp variations in adsorption, and demonstrate that targeted oversampling of these cases improves model robustness. Finally, we combine the ML-predicted Henry coefficients with gas-phase thermodynamics to compute reaction equilibrium distributions for C16 hydroisomerization. This integrated, data-driven approach enables efficient screening and design of shape-selective zeolite catalysts, thereby reducing the need for costly simulations

Group contribution methods (GCMs) provide a practical and computationally efficient approach for predicting thermodynamic properties of hydrocarbons, especially when experimental data are scarce. This review evaluates the evolution of GCMs from classical first-order schemes (e.g. Lydersen method, Joback method) to more advanced second-order frameworks (e.g. CG94, Sharma method), hybrid extensions, and emerging machine learning integrations. While first-order models are simple and widely used, these models struggle with branched and long-chain molecules. Second-order approaches significantly improve structural sensitivity and predictive accuracy, achieving deviations below 2–3% for critical properties and within 1 kcal/mol for formation enthalpies of branched alkanes. Nevertheless, challenges remain in extrapolating to highly complex molecules, underrepresented functional groups, and extreme conditions. Promising directions include reinforcement of second-order GCMs with molecular theory, systematic expansion of experimental and quantum-based datasets, and hybrid GCM–machine learning models that retain interpretability while improving generalisability. We recommend prioritising models that balance accuracy, robustness, simplicity, and transferability to accelerate sustainable process and product designs, particularly in applications such as fuel upgrading including hydroisomerisation, separation processes, and green chemical development.

Hydrate-based H2 storage is based on the mechanism of trapping H2 in water-based structures that are environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. Understanding the effects of common promoters on hydrate-based H2 storage at the molecular level is crucial for designing efficient storage systems, and for discovering novel promoters. Here, a series of μs-scale molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the nucleation of binary H2 hydrates from gas-liquid two-phase solutions in the presence of various promoters, i.e., CH4, CO2, C2H6, C3H8, C5H10, and THF. The simulation results indicate that the H2 and promoter molecules first dissolve in water from the gas phase and then are absorbed on the cage-faces, promoting the nucleation and growth of binary H2 hydrates. THF is the most effective promoter for hydrate-based H2 storage, exhibiting high performance in converting H2 from the gas phase to hydrates. It is followed by CH4, C2H6, and CO2; C3H8 and C5H10 molecules are less effective H2 hydrate promoters. The presence of large promoter molecules enhances multi-occupied cage formation. The molecular insight into the nucleation of binary H2 hydrates with various promoters provided here not only contributes to a broader understanding of hydrate-based H2 storage but is expected to motivate further experimental and computational studies.

Finite-size effects of transport properties computed from molecular dynamics simulations are investigated for Weeks-Chandler-Andersen systems at reduced densities of 0.05 (dilute gas), 0.45 (dense gas), and 0.85 (fluid close to the solid-liquid transition). Viscosities, self-diffusivities, Onsager coefficients, and electrical conductivities are computed for various system sizes ranging from 64 to 8192 WCA particles at each density. At dilute and intermediate densities, finite-size corrections to the transport properties significantly deviate from the widely used Yeh–Hummer correction, which was originally developed for the liquid phase.

Heat pumps, which recycle waste heat, are a promising technology for reducing CO₂ emissions. Efficiently using low-grade waste heat remains challenging due to the limitations of standard heat exchangers and the need for more effective working fluids. This work introduces a multi-scale methodology that combines force field-based Monte Carlo simulations, quantum mechanics, and equations of state to explore the potential of formic acid as a new reactive fluid in thermodynamic cycles. Formic acid exhibits dimerization behavior, forming cyclic dimers in the gas phase, which can enhance the thermodynamic efficiency of heat recovery systems. The dimerization reaction of formic acid is crucial because it integrates chemical energy into thermodynamic processes, potentially improving the performance of heat pumps and other energy systems. The study implements umbrella sampling in Monte Carlo simulations to compute the thermodynamic properties of HCOOH dimerization, including equilibrium constants, enthalpy, and entropy. Results from two different methods to study dimer formation, namely the dimer counter method and the potential of mean force method, show strong agreement with the enthalpy of dimerization of −60.46 kJ mol⁻¹ and −62.91 kJ mol⁻¹, and entropy of −137.36 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹ and −146.98 J mol⁻¹K⁻¹, respectively. A very good agreement of the Monte Carlo results with Quantum Mechanics and experimental data validates the accuracy of the simulations. For phase equilibrium properties, the Peng–Robinson equation of state, coupled with advanced mixing rules, was applied and compared to Monte Carlo simulations in the Gibbs ensemble. This approach enabled the determination of the Global Phase Equilibrium of the system, vaporization enthalpy, phase composition, vapor and liquid densities of the coexisting phases, and entropy as a function of temperature. The agreement between the thermodynamic model and Monte Carlo simulations confirms the reliability of the methodology in capturing the phase behavior of the system. The findings demonstrate a promising approach for discovering and characterizing new reactive fluids, contributing to more efficient and sustainable energy technologies.

Cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) is a promising green solvent due to its eco-friendly properties; it is produced by adding methanol (MeOH) to cyclopentene. Separation of the resulting product mixture containing CPME and MeOH is critical, and it requires vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data. In this work, isobaric VLE data were measured experimentally using an ebulliometer in a 60.0–101.3 kPa pressure range for a binary system of CPME + MeOH. VLE data were modeled using excess Gibbs (G (Formula presented.)) energy-based models such as Wilson, NRTL, and UNIQUAC. The formation of an azeotrope was analyzed. Flash point, surface tension, Gibbs adsorption, and thickness of surface layer were estimated using the Wilson model, which can help in determining molecule interaction and overall behavior of the system. Atmospheric and high-pressure distillation columns were designed using Aspen Plus to study the separation of CPME + MeOH, and an economic evaluation of the same was carried out.

Accurate conductivity predictions of KOH(aq) are crucial for electrolysis applications. OH– is transferred in water by the Grotthuss transfer mechanism, thereby increasing its mobility compared to that of other ions. Classical and ab initio molecular dynamics struggle to capture this enhanced mobility due to limitations in computational costs or in capturing chemical reactions. Most studies to date have provided only qualitative descriptions of the structure during Grotthuss transfer, without quantitative results for the transfer rate and the resulting transport properties. Here, machine learning molecular dynamics is used to investigate 50,000 transfer events. Analysis confirmed earlier works that Grotthuss transfer requires a reduction in accepted and a slight increase in donated hydrogen bonds to the hydroxide, indicating that hydrogen-bond rearrangements are rate-limiting. The computed self-diffusion coefficients and electrical conductivities are consistent with experiments for a wide temperature range, outperforming classical interatomic force fields and earlier AIMD simulations.

In the days prior to the Thermodynamics2024 conference in Delft (The Netherlands), the annual RASPA workshop/school took place at Delft University of Technology with 55 participants (both industry and academics) from all over the world. RASPA is a popular open-source molecular simulation software package for studying adsorption and diffusion in fluids and nanoporous materials, and it is especially popular in the metal-organic frameworks and zeolite communities. The main contributors to RASPA (and organisers of the RASPA workshop/school in Delft) are David Dubbeldam, Sofia Calero, Randall Q. Snurr, and Thijs J.H. Vlugt. In this short paper, we briefly explain the history of RASPA and the RASPA workshops, as well as our strategy to teach the workshop participants how to use RASPA for their specific research projects.

Adsorption simulations often assume a rigid framework, which can be exploited by replacing the expensive framework-adsorbate energy/force evaluation by interpolation of a precomputed energy grid. We present the implementation in RASPA3 of a triquintic interpolation algorithm by Boateng and Bradach and compare it to the tricubic algorithm of Lekien and Marsden. We extended the scheme to interpolation in fractional space to facilitate interpolation of non-rectangular frameworks and evaluated the accuracy. We find that the use of grids is advantageous for larger systems and/or large cutoffs, but generally the efficiency gains are modest (a factor of 2–5).

Porous materials such as zeolites and Metal-Organic Frameworks are widely used for molecular separations based on adsorption and enthalpy/entropy characteristics. Ideal adsorption solution theory (IAST) predicts mixture adsorption behaviour on the basis of pure component isotherms of adsorbents in porous media. Mixture data at all mole fractions are required for breakthrough simulations. The use of IAST avoids the expensive computations of mixtures with Monte Carlo methods. Matching outcomes from computational physics studies to experimentally measurable properties is the foundation of the materials design pipeline. Here, we report the regression of an Invertible Autoencoder (IAE) for the forward and backward mapping of pure and mixture isotherms. The invertible autoencoder is defined as a soft-invertible neural network, which can be used as mapping function. Pure component isotherms are modelled using a 3-site Langmuir-Freundlich model, with a broad range of equilibrium pressure and heterogeneity factors. A synthetic dataset is generated from pure component isotherms and mixture isotherms calculated with RUPTURA. The IAE predicts pure and mixture isotherms with high precision over a large fugacity range, for up to 6 components and 3-site isotherms. This work contributes to inverting the full design pipeline from physical gas separation to adsorbate design, enabling property-guided materials discovery.

One of the most promising energy carriers for transport applications are hydrogen-based energy carriers. NaBH₄ is a hydrogen energy carrier and produces hydrogen bubbles when it is dissolved in water. The formation of hydrogen bubbles hinders experimental measurements of the thermodynamic and transport properties of aqueous NaBH₄ solutions at elevated temperatures. Accurate knowledge of these properties is essential for the NaBH₄ hydrolysis reactor modeling and design. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide the option to study the thermodynamic and transport properties of NaBH₄ aqueous solutions without hindering hydrogen bubble formation. In this work, a new force field is developed for BH₄^-, namely, the Delft force field of BH₄^- (DFF/BH₄^-), which, combined with additional force fields, can accurately describe experimental densities and viscosities of 0 to 5 m (mol salt/kg water) NaBH₄, 0 to 3 m NaB(OH)₄, and 1 m NaOH aqueous solutions at 295 K within 1.8% and 10.8% maximum deviation, respectively. Empirical fitting correlations are created for densities, viscosities, and self-diffusivities obtained from the MD simulations of 0 to 5 m NaBH₄, 0 to 5 m NaB(OH)₄, and 0 to 1 m NaOH aqueous solutions at 295-363 K for NaBH₄ hydrolysis reactor modeling and design purposes.

Methane pyrolysis is a promising route for low-emission hydrogen (H₂) production, with solid carbon as a potentially valuable byproduct. Despite this potential, the economic feasibility of Catalytic Methane Pyrolysis (CMP) with fluidized bed reactors (FBR) has been insufficiently studied. This study develops a conceptual CMP plant using two novel isothermal reactor models—based on continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) and plug-flow reactor (PFR) assumptions—to represent the operational extremes of FBRs. Our reactor models incorporate reaction and catalyst deactivation kinetics from experiments with nickel-supported catalysts, and the framework enables process simulations that account for the catalyst rate required to sustain reactor activity. These models address the lack of proper reduced-order FBR models and the reliance on oversimplified assumptions in the literature. In the baseline scenario, the conceptual plant yields an LCOH ranging from $3.89 to $4.79 per kilogram, defining the expected cost bounds for an FBR-based CMP plant. At a H₂ selling price of $5.00 per kilogram, the process achieves favorable payback time and net present value. Monte Carlo and sensitivity analyses indicate that CMP remains cost-competitive under economic uncertainties. Increased carbon sales could make CMP more economical than steam methane reforming, while unsold byproducts may incur costly sequestration. Reactor heating assessment shows methane combustion with carbon capture minimizes both cost and emissions. Overall, this work demonstrates the economic potential of CMP for H₂ production and provides a practical modeling framework for process evaluation.

Experimental screening of Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for separation applications can be costly and time-consuming. Computational methods can provide many benefits in this process, as expensive compounds and a wide range of operating conditions can be tested while crucial mechanistic insights are gained. TAMOF-1, a recently developed MOF, stands out for its exceptional stability, robustness and cost-effective synthesis. Its good CO2 uptake capacity makes it a promising agent for flue gas separation applications. In this work, we combine experiments with simulations at the atomistic and numerical level to investigate the adsorption and separation of CO2 and N2. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we accurately reproduce experimental adsorption isotherms and elucidate the adsorption mechanisms. TAMOF-1 effectively separates CO2 from N2 because of preferential binding sites near Cu2+ atoms. To assess separation performance in equilibrium at different conditions along the entire isotherm pressure range, adsorbed mole fractions, selectivities, and the trade-off between selectivity and uptake (TSN) are calculated. The dynamic separation performance is assessed by breakthrough experiments and numerical simulations, demonstrating efficient dynamic separation of CO2 and N2, with CO2 being retained in the column.

Accurate prediction of thermodynamic properties of hydrocarbons is essential for chemical process modelling. Conventional group contribution methods often are used to predict these properties. However, these methods often require extensive parameter sets to handle structural complexities. A refined group contribution method for predicting thermodynamic properties of hydrocarbon isomers with reduced complexity and improved accuracy is presented and discussed. By combining the structural framework of Constantinou and Gani (CG94) with a sensitivity-based selection of second-order groups, a reduced yet highly effective set of twelve second-order groups is identified. This reduced set retains the predictive power comparable to more complex models while significantly reducing the number of parameters. Linear regression is applied to model enthalpies and Gibbs free energies of formation for a wide temperature range. To test broader applicability, the model is further extended to properties that require nonlinear regression, including critical temperatures, critical pressures, acentric factors, and liquid densities. For all cases, the proposed model achieves high predictive accuracy, demonstrating its robustness and generalizability. This methodology balances interpretability, efficiency, and performance, making it suitable for both research and industrial thermodynamic modelling.

The use of reactive working fluids in thermodynamic cycles is currently being considered as an alternative to inert working fluids, because of the preliminarily attested higher energy-efficiency potential. The current needs to simulate their use in thermodynamic cycles, which may operate in liquid, vapour or vapour-liquid state, are an accurate real-fluid equation of state and ideal gas thermochemical properties of each molecule constituting the mixture, to calculate the equilibrium constant. To this end, the appeal to a multi-scale theoretical methodology is paramount and its definition represents the objective of the present work. This methodology is applied and validated on the system N₂O₄ ⇌ 2NO₂. Firstly, the equations solved for simultaneous two-phase and reaction equilibrium are presented. Secondly, ideal gas thermochemical properties of N₂O₄ and NO₂ are computed at atomic scale by quantum mechanics simulations. Then, to apply the selected cubic equation of state, pure-component properties of the species forming the reactive mixture (critical point coordinates and acentric factor) are required as input. However, these properties are not measurable, since NO₂ and N₂O₄ do not exist in nature as pure components. To get around this difficulty, the methodology relies on molecular Monte Carlo simulations of the pure N₂O₄ and NO₂, as well as on the reactive N₂O₄ ⇌ 2NO₂, enabling the determination of those missing pure-component properties and thus the calculation, on a macroscopic scale, of the reactive mixture properties. Finally, the comparison of calculated mixture properties with available experimental data leads to validate the accuracy of the proposed methodology.

Non-polarizable force fields fail to accurately predict free energies of aqueous electrolytes without compromising the predictive ability for densities and transport properties. A new approach is presented in which (1) TIP4P/2005 water and scaled charge force fields are used to describe the interactions in the liquid phase and (2) an additional Effective Charge Surface (ECS) is used to compute free energies at zero additional computational expense. The ECS is obtained using a single temperature-independent charge scaling parameter per species. Thereby, the chemical potential of water and the free energies of hydration of various aqueous salts (e.g., NaCl and LiCl) are accurately described (deviations less than 5% from experiments), in sharp contrast to calculations where the ECS is omitted (deviations larger than 20%). This approach enables accurate predictions of free energies of aqueous electrolyte solutions using non-polarizable force fields, without compromising liquid-phase properties.

We present RASPA3, a molecular simulation code for computing adsorption and diffusion in nanoporous materials and thermodynamic and transport properties of fluids. It implements force field based classical Monte Carlo/molecular dynamics in various ensembles. In this article, we introduce the new additions and changes compared to RASPA2. RASPA3 is rewritten from the ground up in C++23 with speed and code readability in mind. Transition-matrix Monte Carlo is added to compute the density of states and free energies. The Monte Carlo code for rigid molecules is based on quaternions, and the atomic positions needed in the energy evaluation are recreated from the center of mass position and quaternion orientation. The expanded ensemble methodology for fractional molecules, with a scaling parameter λ between 0 and 1, now also keeps track of analytic expressions of dU/dλ, allowing independent verification of the chemical potential using thermodynamic integration. The source code is freely available under the MIT license on GitHub. Using this code, we compare four Monte Carlo (MC) insertion/deletion techniques: unbiased Metropolis MC, Configurational-Bias Monte Carlo (CBMC), Continuous Fractional Component MC (CFCMC), and CB/CFCMC. We compare particle distribution shapes, acceptance ratios, accuracy and speed of isotherm computation, enthalpies of adsorption, and chemical potentials, over a wide range of loadings and systems, for the grand canonical ensemble and for the Gibbs ensemble.

Entropies for alkane isomers longer than C10 are computed using our recently developed linear regression model for thermochemical properties which is based on second-order group contributions. The computed entropies show excellent agreement with experimental data and data from Scott’s tables which are obtained from a statistical mechanics-based correlation. Entropy production and heat input are calculated for the hydroisomerization of C7 isomers in various zeolites (FAU-, ITQ-29-, BEA-, MEL-, MFI-, MTW-, and MRE-types) at 500 K at chemical equilibrium. Small variations in these properties are observed because of the differences in reaction equilibrium distributions for these zeolites. The effect of chain length on heat input and entropy production is also studied for the hydroisomerization of C7, C8, C10, and C14 isomers in MTW-type zeolite at 500 K. For longer chains, both heat input and entropy production increase. Enthalpies and absolute entropies of C7 hydroisomerization reaction products in MTW-type zeolite increase with higher temperatures. These findings highlight the accuracy of our linear regression model in computing entropies for alkanes and provide insight for designing and optimizing zeolite-catalyzed hydroisomerization processes.