CO2 capture by aqueous alkanolamines treating is one of the prevalent methods to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to help environmental problems. For realizing more the thermodynamics of the CO2-MDEA-H2O, the PC-SAFT equation of state was used to simulate the absorption of carbon dioxide by MDEA (methyldiethanolamine). A correlation for temperature-dependent binary interaction parameter were calculated by excess enthalpy data for aqueous MDEA at low temperatures (lower than 350 K), and then this binary interaction parameter used to predict phase equilibria of ternary aqueous mixtures of MDEA with carbon dioxide. Smith-Missen algorithm and PC-SAFT EOS have been used to determine concentration of species in chemical equilibrium and physical equilibrium, respectively. In addition, for determining parameter sets of MDEA, vapor pressure and saturated liquid density data were used and different and probable association schemes were considered in parameter estimations. Results show 4(2:2, 0:0) association scheme for MDEA and 4(2:2) association scheme for water have better agreement with binary and ternary VLE experimental data. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.