Research

Dr. Luis Alejandro Galicia Luna (SNI III, Member of the Mexican Academy of Science 2004-)
Tel: (55) 5729-6000, Ext.55133

1. Development of equations of state derived from classic thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. The objective of this area is the development of simple models, which will be based in the statistical mechanics. It means base on microscopic physics to represent and predict thermodynamic properties.


2. Development of new apparatus to measure thermodynamic properties of binary and multicomponent mixtures. These apparatus include measurements of PVT properties(Synthetic and Synthetic-Analytic), Phase Equilibria, simultaneously measurements of phase equilibria and PVT properties. Solubilities of liquids and solids and solids in supercritical solvents, miscibility (in development), critical points (in development), vapor pressures (in development).
   • Determination of experimental phase equilibria and volumetric properties of CO₂+Alcanes, CO₂+Alkanols, H₂O+Alcanols, CO₂+Alkanols+Alkanes, H₂O+Alcanes y CO₂+Alkanols+H₂O mixtures up to 60 MPa and 523 K.
   • Solubilities of Nitrogen in hydrocarbons up to 800 bar and 200 ºC.
   • Solubilities of solids and solid mixtures in supercritical solvents (Pure and Mixtures)
   • Solubilities, phase equilibria and uses as cosolvent of Ionic Liquids (IL), IL+CO2, IL+CO2+alkanols, IL+CO2+Alkanols+Sulfur compounds and IL+CO2+Sulfur Compounds.
3. New capillary viscometer for liquids (pure and mixtures) and experimental determination of liquid viscosities up to 40 MPa and 423 K
4. New experimental set-up and method for measuring both pressure - temperature phase diagrams as well as compositional data of equilibrium phases. Experimental determination of gas hydrates phase equilibria
5. Improved extraction of petroleum. The objective is to understand the interaction mechanisms among petroleum, porous media and extraction solvents at extreme conditions, i.e. at temperatures up to 200 ºC and pressures up to 1000 bar.


6. Development of supercritical fluids processes in biotechnology, chemistry, food and petroleum areas.
   

   • A plant of supercritical fluid extraction capable to work up to 150 ºC and 600 bar is available in the laboratory for industrial applications in the above mentioned areas.
   
   
   • Examples of mentioned industrial applications are the extraction of caratenoids, and flavonoids from natural products, the extraction of sulfur compounds from Mayan oil, and polymerization by supercritical fluids.


7. Molecular Simulation. The objective is to have a support from the molecular point of view of the experimental thermodynamic and transport properties measurements and eventually to understand the superconductivity of fluids and nanosized solids at the molecular level.
8. New separation processes in chemical engineering by Gas hydrate formation phenomenon
   

Dr. Jose Javier Castro Arellano
Tel: (55) 5729-6000, Ext.55133

1. Phase equilibria
2. Development of catalyst using supercritical fluids.