Recent advances in modeling thermodynamic properties of aqueous strong electrolyte systems

Theoretical and engineering models far the thermodynamic properties of strong electrolyte solutions have advanced significantly since 1985. This progress is notable in the ability to calculate selected properties of single and mixed strong electrolyte solutions over a wide range of temperatures and compositions, including effects of various nonelectrolytes, solvents and supercritical components. Theoretical studies have begun to consider more realistic fundamental interactions between various components in these systems. There have been several successful conversions of theories based on the mean spherical approximation and perturbation methods into engineering equations, without large numbers of empirical parameters. Other theoretical models seem almost ready for application to real systems. The capability to estimate a wide variety of thermodynamic properties accurately with a consistent set of equations and a small number of adjustable parameters has been achieved by several groups over limited temperature and composition ranges. Much work remains to be done, however, to understand completely the interplay and relative importance of various contributing energy effects.