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Supercritical Fluids Education
Why Teach Supercritical Fluids?
Supercritical Fluids (SCF) are nothing new. However, the use of them to solve some of today's problems is very new. Uses of SCF range from
- Extracting herbs, spices and fragrances
- Extraction of pharmaceuticals / nutraceuticals
- Extracting nicotine and caffeine
- Extraction from foods
- Dyeing textiles
- Cleaning medical implants
- Making nanoparticles
- Drying aerogels
- Cleaning wafers
- Developing photoresists
- Extraction from polymers
- Impregnation of biopolymers
But before we get into the specifics, we much first understand some basics...
What is a Supercritical Fluid?
Carbon dioxide is in its supercritical fluid state when both the temperature and pressure equal or exceed the critical point of 31°C and 73 atm (see diagram). In its supercritical state, CO2 has both gas-like and liquid-like qualities, and it is this dual characteristic of supercritical fluids that provides the ideal conditions for extracting compounds with a high degree of recovery in a short period of time.
CO2 Phase Diagram
By controlling or regulating pressure and temperature, the density, or solvent strength, of supercritical fluids
can be altered to simulate organic solvents ranging from chloroform to methylene chloride to hexane. This dissolving
power can be applied to purify, extract, fractionate, infuse, and recrystallize a wide array of materials.
Because CO2 is non-polar, a polar organic co-solvent (or modifier) can be added to the supercritical fluid for processing polar compounds. By controlling the level of pressure/temperature/modifier, supercritical CO2 can
dissolve a broad range of compounds, both polar and non-polar.
Why the Interest in Supercritical Fluids
It's the environment!
- Global Warming
- Disposal
- Consumer Health
- Worker Health
It's Easy Being Green!
Carbon dioxide is one of the most commonly used supercritical fluids.
CO2 is:
- Safe
- Inexpensive
- Readily available
- An ideal substitute for many hazardous and toxic solvents
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CO2 is not produced in the the SCF process. Existing CO2 is merely used. There is NO addition to any greenhouse effect.
It's nanotechnology!
- The world of the Very Small requires new techniques of solvating
SCF is the wave of the future. The uses for this technology are seemingly endless! With no solvents and no residues, this safe technology is changing the way things are done in so many industries.
Supercritical Fluids are no longer an exotic laboratory curiosity, but now a cost-effective tool to improve process development.
- Natural products
- Medicinals
- Biomass extractions
- Fragrances/essential oils
- Pharmaceuticals/foods
- Natural products
- Enzymatic reactions
- Reaction cleanups
- Hydrogenations
- Material Science
- Nanoparticles
- Aerogels
- Coatings
- Metal Injection Molding (MIM)
- Impregnations
- Electronics
- IC Cleaning
- Micro Electro-Mechanical Machines (MEM) cleaning
- Resist developer
- Textiles
- Cleaning
- Critical cleaning machine parts
- ICs
- MEMs
- Subcritical/Supercritical Water
Supercritical Fluids will revolutionize processes!
Applied Separations offers a full line of SFE systems to meet the needs in your laboratory.
Spe-ed SFE Prime
Applied Separations has created the first teaching tool for Supercritical Fluids. Safe and affordable, this instrument is perfect for the classroom.
Supercritical Fluids (SCF) Education
As thought-leaders in the world of Supercritical Fluids, Applied Separations strikes to share its knowledge and experience to further the use of Supercricial Fluids.
Laboratory Instruments
Applied Separations has the instruments you need in your laboratory to handle the most complex to the most straight-forward SCF projects.
Pilot Plants: Small Production
The basic supercritical pilot plant is a "no frills" caster-mounted system for the budgetminded. You, as the user, determine the size of the system...
Industrial Scale Production
Applied Separations will work with you to pin-point your needs and determine the feasibility of your project.
Metal Injection Molding
Supercritical Fluids will revolutionize the debinding process.
Accessories
Not only do we offer SCF instruments, but a full line of accessories the customize your SCF instruments are also available.
Applications
We have compiled a comprehensive list of SCF applications available for free. Click here to view the list of the SCF applications you can put to use immediately in your lab.
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