ABSTRACT
Development of a critically evaluated physical property data base from the literature is one of the first steps in the engineering assessment of a proposed new or revised chemical process. The tools to assemble that data base were described. Usually, the matrix of data values thus obtained will be sparse. There is never an infinite amount of data, and the power of thermodynamics is its ability to interpolate and extrapolate limited information. Furthermore, thermodynamic equations sometimes require that the interpolations conform with physical reality. There are physical property prediction methods which are completely adequate for preliminary design purposes. When the components are not present in major amounts and are not expected to interfere with purification, it is often possible to go into final process design with estimates of their physical properties. Critical properties are sometimes needed when process conditions are near the critical point.
