Experimental interfacial tensions of the systems (H<inf>2</inf>O+CO<inf>2</inf>), (H<inf>2</inf>O+N<inf>2</inf>), (H<inf>2</inf>O+Ar), (H<inf>2</inf>O+CO<inf>2</inf> +N<inf>2</inf>) and (H<inf>2</inf>O+CO<inf>2</inf> +Ar) are compared with calculations based on the statistical associating fluid theory for variable range potentials of the Mie form (SAFT-VR Mie) in combination with the square-gradient theory (SGT). Comparisons are made at temperatures from (298 to 473)K and at pressures up to 60MPa. Experimental data for the systems (H<inf>2</inf>O+CO<inf>2</inf>), (H<inf>2</inf>O+N<inf>2</inf>) and (H<inf>2</inf>O+CO<inf>2</inf> +N<inf>2</inf>) are taken from the literature. For the (H<inf>2</inf>O+Ar) and (H<inf>2</inf>O+CO<inf>2</inf> +Ar) systems, we report new experimental interfacial-tension data at temperatures of (298.15-473.15)K and pressures from (2 to 50)MPa, measured by the pendant-drop method. The expanded uncertainties at 95% confidence are 0.05K for temperature, 70kPa for pressure, 0.016× γ for interfacial tension in the binary (Ar+H<inf>2</inf>O) system and 0.018× γ for interfacial tension in the ternary (CO<inf>2</inf> +Ar+H<inf>2</inf>O) system.

The parameters in the SAFT-VR Mie equation of state are estimated entirely from phase-equilibrium data for the pure components and binary mixtures. For pure water, the SGT influence parameter is determined from vapour-liquid surface-tension data, as is common practice. Since the other components are supercritical over most or the entire temperature range under consideration, their pure-component influence parameters are regressed by comparison with the binary interfacial-tension data. A geometric-mean combining rule is used for the unlike influence parameter in mixtures without incorporation of adjustable binary parameters. The SAFT-VR Mie+SGT approach is found to provide an excellent correlation of the surface tension of water and of the interfacial tensions of the binary systems comprising H<inf>2</inf>O with CO<inf>2</inf> or Ar or N<inf>2</inf>. When applied to predict the interfacial tensions of the two ternary systems, generally good results are found for (H<inf>2</inf>O+CO<inf>2</inf> +N<inf>2</inf>) while, for (H<inf>2</inf>O+CO<inf>2</inf> +Ar), the theory performs well at high temperatures but significant deviations are found at low temperatures. Overall, the SAFT-VR Mie+SGT approach can be recommended as a means of modelling the interfacial properties of systems comprising water, carbon dioxide and diluent gases.