The addition of cosolvents to supercritical fluid (SCF) solvents can have large effects on solubilities, giving engineers the ability to tailor loadings and selectivities of solutes for difficult separations. It is necessary to have a better understanding of the special intermolecular interactions that occur in SCF solutions to predict the effects of cosolvents. We use u SCF chromatographic technique to acquire a database of cosolvent effects for a variety of cosolvents and solutes; examination of the cosolvent effects shows evidence of hydrogen bonding, charge transfer complex formation, and dipole-dipole coupling between solute and cosolvent molecules. SCF solvents, carbon dioxide, ethane, and fluoroform, are compared, and then the use of the chromatograph to measure solubilities is discussed.

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Charles A. Eckert did his undergraduate work at MIT and earned his Ph.D. at Berkeley. Since 1989 he has held the J. Ersklne Love, Jr., Institute Chair In Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Previously he was In the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana, for 24 years, rising through the ranks to Head from 1980 to 1986. He has authored or coauthored over 150 publications In molecular thermodynamics and solution behavior, Including phase equilibria, chemical kinetics, and supercritical fluid solutions. Diane L. Bergmann received her B.S. In chemical engineering from North Carolina State University and her Ph.D. from the university of Illinois In the area of liquid thermodynamics. She Is currently working at BOC Process Plants In Murray Hill, NJ. David L. Tomasko received his B.S. In chemical engineering from the University of Tulsa and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. He did postdoctoral work at the University of New South Wales and Is now an Assistant Professor In chemical engineering at The Ohio State University. His area of interest Is In Intermolecular Interactions In supercritical fluid solutions. Michael P. Ekart received his B.S. from Kansas State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois In the area of supercritical fluid thermodynamics. He is currently employed by Eastman Chemical Company In Kingsport, TN.

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