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Supercritical Fluid Reaction

Supercritical fluid reaction is a reaction process using a supercritical fluid as a solvent. When a fluid is taken above a particular temperature and pressure (critical point of the respective fluid), it exists in a condition called the supercritical fluid state. The physio–chemical properties of a fluid in the supercritical state are in between those of a typical gas and liquid. For example, the density of a supercritical fluid can be changed by varying the pressure on the fluid. As a result, a supercritical fluid can have a density that ranges between those exhibited by gases to liquid–like values when the fluid is compressed at high pressures. Carbon dioxide is certainly the most popular fluid because of its physiological compatibility, non–toxicity, inflammability, easy availability, convenient critical parameters (Tc= 31° Celsius, Pc=7.38 MPa), inexpensiveness and environmental friendliness.

The Supercritical Fluid Reaction (SFR) systems are built to enable the user to rapidly react multiple compounds with supercritical CO₂, and extract materials of interest. The user can operate in a static, pressure control mode or a dynamic flow control mode. Thar produces off–the–shelf, automated SFR⁄ Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) kits for use in pharmaceutical, chemical and food research laboratories.