Guide to the Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data: What It Is and How to Publish

The Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data (JCED) is a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Chemical Society. It focuses on measurement, correlation, and prediction of physical, thermodynamic, and transport properties of chemical systems. To publish in JCED, you submit a manuscript reporting new experimental data or computational methods, following the journal’s author guidelines on the ACS Publications website.

What the Journal Covers

JCED prioritizes experimental measurements that are documented, reproducible, and relevant to engineering applications. Common topics include vapor-liquid equilibria, solubility, density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, and phase behavior of pure fluids and mixtures.

The journal also accepts papers on data correlation and prediction, provided the work includes a significant experimental component or validates existing models against new measurements. Review articles appear only by invitation. JCED does not typically publish purely theoretical work without supporting experimental data.

Types of Data Accepted

• Thermodynamic properties: enthalpy, heat capacity, fugacity, activity coefficients.
• Transport properties: viscosity, thermal conductivity, diffusion coefficients.
• Phase equilibrium: vapor-liquid, liquid-liquid, and solid-liquid equilibria.
• Interfacial properties: surface tension, interfacial tension.

Each submission must include a description of the experimental method, uncertainty analysis, and comparison with literature values. The journal encourages authors to deposit raw data in supplementary materials.

How to Prepare a Manuscript

Review the journal’s author guidelines on the ACS Publications website. JCED uses a standard IMRaD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion), with emphasis on the data itself.

Structure of a Typical Paper

1. Title and Abstract: The title should state the system studied. The abstract must summarize measured properties, temperature and pressure ranges, and key findings in 150–200 words.
2. Introduction: Explain why the data are needed. Cite prior work and state how your measurements improve existing knowledge.
3. Experimental Section: Describe chemicals used (purity, source, purification method), apparatus, and measurement procedure. Include uncertainty budgets for each measured quantity.
4. Results and Discussion: Present data in tables and figures. Discuss trends, compare with literature values, and explain discrepancies. For correlation, provide model parameters and statistical fits.
5. Supporting Information: Place large data tables, raw data, or additional figures here. JCED requires that all data used to generate figures be available in supporting information.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Incomplete uncertainty analysis: JCED expects a full propagation of error. State the combined standard uncertainty for each property.
• Missing chemical purity details: Report the supplier, lot number, and purity. If you purified the chemical, describe the method and final purity.
• Insufficient comparison with literature: Compare your data with at least one or two reliable sources. Explain why your values differ if they do.
• Overclaiming novelty: JCED values reliable data over groundbreaking claims. A well-measured property for a common system can be publishable if it improves accuracy.

The Peer Review and Submission Process

Submissions go through the ACS Paragon Plus system. The editor assigns an associate editor who checks the manuscript for scope and quality. If it passes initial screening, it goes to two or three peer reviewers.

Reviewers evaluate experimental design, data quality, and clarity of presentation. Typical review time is 4–8 weeks. Common reviewer requests include additional uncertainty analysis, more detailed chemical characterization, or reanalysis of data.

Tips for a Smooth Review

• Use the journal’s template: ACS provides Word and LaTeX templates. Using one reduces formatting errors.
• Check your references: JCED uses a numbered reference style. Verify all citations are correct and complete.
• Prepare a cover letter: Briefly state why the data are important and that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere. Avoid exaggerated claims.
• Respond to reviewers thoroughly: Address each comment point by point. If you disagree, provide a reasoned explanation.

The Role of Uncertainty and Reproducibility

JCED places strong emphasis on uncertainty quantification. Every measured value should be accompanied by a combined standard uncertainty that accounts for all known sources of error, including instrument calibration, sample purity, temperature control, and random variation.

A typical statement might read: “The combined standard uncertainty for density measurements was 0.5 kg/m³, based on a coverage factor k = 2 (95% confidence level).” You should also state uncertainty for temperature, pressure, and composition.

The journal expects your data can be reproduced by another lab using the same method. To help with this, include:

• A detailed description of the apparatus, including manufacturer and model numbers.
• The calibration procedure and reference standards used.
• The number of replicate measurements and how outliers were handled.
• Any corrections applied (such as buoyancy correction for density measurements).

Data Deposition and Sharing Policies

JCED encourages authors to deposit raw data in a public repository. The journal is a member of the ACS Data Sharing Initiative, which promotes open access to underlying data of published papers.

You can upload data files as supporting information, which are published alongside the article. For large datasets, consider depositing in a domain-specific repository like NIST ThermoLit or the Dortmund Data Bank, and include the repository identifier in the paper.

Key Takeaways

• The Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data publishes experimental and correlational data on physical, thermodynamic, and transport properties of chemical systems.
• Manuscripts must include detailed experimental methods, uncertainty analysis, and comparison with literature.
• Prepare your paper using the journal’s template and follow the specific author guidelines on the ACS Publications website.
• Expect a peer review process that focuses on data quality, reproducibility, and completeness.
• Report uncertainty using a standard format with a coverage factor and confidence level.
• Deposit raw data in a repository or as supporting information to improve reproducibility.