Supercritical Fluids: Properties and Applications

Abstract

Currently, both humanity and the whole planet are living in a critical time, which leads us to look for more sustainable formulas to interact with the environment. One of the important changes in the design and operation of chemical processes is the search for environmentally friendly technologies. Many industrial processes are carried out under severe conditions or with reactants that involve the use of strong acids, toxic metal catalysts, organic solvents, and processes at high temperatures and/or pressures. Supercritical fluids (SCFs) and, among these, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), have been revealed as promising environmentally friendly solvents, energy-efficient, selective, and capable of reducing waste, constituting an alternative to conventional organic solvents. The use of SCF, such as solvents and reaction media, makes it possible to work in less severe and more environmentally friendly conditions, even considerably increasing the efficiency of the processes. This chapter provides a brief review of the most important properties of SCF, with special emphasis on scCO2, as well as some of the most important applications.