Vapor–Liquid Interfacial Properties of CO₂Mixtures for Sequestration Applications

Abstract

Experimentally determining interfacial tension (IFT) for compositions relevant to CO₂ transport is challenging. We address this using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) equation of state with classical density functional theory. We compute phase equilibria and interfacial properties of pure CO₂ and CO₂–CH₄, CO₂–Ar, CO₂–N₂, and CO₂–H₂ mixtures at 220–273 K. Both approaches accurately estimate CO₂ phase equilibria and IFTs. For binary mixtures, phase equilibria computed using PC-SAFT agree well with experiments when k_ij ≠ 0. IFTs computed from PC-SAFT depend strongly on k_ij, while MD simulations systematically overpredict IFTs. The IFT decreases with increasing pressure, least pronouncedly for H₂-containing mixtures. Binary mixtures exhibit interfacial enrichment of the light boiling component, decreasing with increasing temperature and pressure. Semiempirical Parachor and Winterfeld–Scriven–Davis models capture IFT–pressure trends with mixture-dependent accuracy. These results improve predictions of metastable limits and provide key insights for fast-transient multiphase CO₂ flow modeling.