On the physical validity of the proposed separation potentials for multicomponent mixtures

The object of the study is the "generalized" separation potential for multicomponent mixtures. A critical assessment of its validity from the point of view of thermodynamics is given and the assumptions made in its derivation are analyzed. The work is of a debatable nature and aims to develop a unified point of view on such a problematic topic of the theory of separation of multicomponent molecular and isotopic mixtures as the separation potential and separating capacity. (paper)