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Abstract

The surfactant sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) was used to form reverse micelle and micro-emulsion ethane and propane for systems consisting of 80 to 100 percent alkane by weight. Phase diagrams from view cell studies of microemulsion phases formed in supercritical fluids are reported and shown to be strongly dependent on pressure. The properties of these solutions were also characterized by conductivity, den­sity and surfactant solubility measurements. The solubil­ity of AOT in ethane and propane over a range of pres­sures shows behavior typical of soilds in supercritical fluids. The maximum water to surfactant ratio (W.sub.0) increased dramatically in both ethane and propane sys­tems as presssure was increased. At 300. bar and 103° C., the supercritical propane-surfactant system is capable of solubilizing much more water (W0= 12) than the super­critical ethane-surfactant system (W0=4) at 300 bar and 37.degree. C. Some of the important thermodynamic contribu­tions which are likely responsible for this pressure de­pendent phase behavior are discussed and potential applications of this new class of solvents are considered.

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