diff --git a/include/cantera/thermo/PureFluidPhase.h b/include/cantera/thermo/PureFluidPhase.h
index 30e2736e2..fb6c038b5 100644
--- a/include/cantera/thermo/PureFluidPhase.h
+++ b/include/cantera/thermo/PureFluidPhase.h
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ public:
         return "PureFluid";
     }
 
+    //! Set the name of the TPX substance to use for the equation of state. This
+    //! function should be called before initThermo().
+    void setSubstance(const std::string& name) {
+        m_tpx_name = name;
+    }
+
     virtual doublereal enthalpy_mole() const;
     virtual doublereal intEnergy_mole() const;
     virtual doublereal entropy_mole() const;
@@ -190,10 +196,15 @@ private:
 
     //! Int indicating the type of the fluid
     /*!
-     * The tpx package uses an int to indicate what fluid is being sought.
+     * The tpx package uses an int to indicate what fluid is being sought. Used
+     * only if #m_tpx_name is not set.
      */
     int m_subflag;
 
+    //! Name for this substance used by the TPX package. If this is not set,
+    //! #m_subflag is used instead.
+    std::string m_tpx_name;
+
     //! Molecular weight of the substance (kg kmol-1)
     doublereal m_mw;
 
diff --git a/src/thermo/PureFluidPhase.cpp b/src/thermo/PureFluidPhase.cpp
index 591b87a64..621da2356 100644
--- a/src/thermo/PureFluidPhase.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo/PureFluidPhase.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,11 @@ ThermoPhase* PureFluidPhase::duplMyselfAsThermoPhase() const
 
 void PureFluidPhase::initThermo()
 {
-    m_sub.reset(tpx::GetSub(m_subflag));
+    if (m_tpx_name != "") {
+        m_sub.reset(tpx::newSubstance(m_tpx_name));
+    } else {
+        m_sub.reset(tpx::GetSub(m_subflag));
+    }
     if (!m_sub) {
         throw CanteraError("PureFluidPhase::initThermo",
                            "could not create new substance object.");
diff --git a/test/thermo/phaseConstructors.cpp b/test/thermo/phaseConstructors.cpp
index fed866df5..226a8349f 100644
--- a/test/thermo/phaseConstructors.cpp
+++ b/test/thermo/phaseConstructors.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #include "gtest/gtest.h"
 #include "cantera/thermo/ThermoFactory.h"
 #include "cantera/thermo/FixedChemPotSSTP.h"
+#include "cantera/thermo/PureFluidPhase.h"
 #include "cantera/thermo/NasaPoly2.h"
+#include "cantera/thermo/ShomatePoly.h"
 #include "cantera/thermo/IdealGasPhase.h"
 #include "cantera/base/ctml.h"
 #include "cantera/base/stringUtils.h"
@@ -184,4 +186,17 @@ TEST_F(ConstructFromScratch, addUndefinedElements)
     ASSERT_DOUBLE_EQ(0.5, p.massFraction("CO2"));
 }
 
+TEST(PureFluidFromScratch, CarbonDioxide)
+{
+    PureFluidPhase p;
+    auto sCO2 = make_shared<Species>("CO2", parseCompString("C:1 O:2"));
+    sCO2->thermo.reset(new ShomatePoly2(200, 6000, 101325, co2_shomate_coeffs));
+    p.addUndefinedElements();
+    p.addSpecies(sCO2);
+    p.setSubstance("carbondioxide");
+    p.initThermo();
+    p.setState_Tsat(280, 0.5);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(p.pressure(), 4160236.987, 1e-2);
+}
+
 } // namespace Cantera