What is Supercritical CO2?
This page is your guide to supercritical fluids, particularly focusing on carbon dioxide (CO2) in its supercritical state. We’ll delve into how this form of CO2 is generated, and the ways we control and harness its unique properties. This understanding offers deeper insights into the science of transforming CO2 into a supercritical fluid and its implications across various industries and applications.
What is
Supercritical CO2
We commonly recognize Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in three primary states of matter. The most familiar form is as a gas. Additionally, under certain conditions of increased pressure, CO2 can be transformed into a liquid state, and at low temperatures, it can solidify into a solid form. These variations in its states allow for its versatile applications in various industries.
However, there exists another phase of CO2 known as the supercritical state. This state is achieved when CO2 surpasses its critical point, where specific pressure and temperature conditions allow for the coexistence of gas and liquid phases. For CO2, this critical point occurs at 74 bar and 31 °C. Within this range, the phase is referred to as a supercritical fluid.
What is
Supercritical Fluid
The remarkable characteristic of a supercritical fluid is its ability to behave like a gas in terms of permeability, while also exhibiting the capability to dissolve materials like a liquid. This unique property makes it an exceptionally powerful medium for extraction purposes. By manipulating the pressure and temperature of CO2, we can precisely adjust the overall density of the supercritical fluid, further enhancing its versatility and extraction capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of Supercritical CO2?
There are a number of practical and environmental benefits when using CO2 as a process fluid:
1. Tuneable Density
2. Tunable polarity
By introducing a higher-polarity solvent like ethanol, the polarity of CO2 can be modified accordingly. Even small proportions of more polar solvents can exert a substantial influence on the extracted components. This adjustment not only impacts the selection of extracted compounds but also facilitates the extraction of specific components like polyphenols by reducing the necessary extraction pressures.
3. Isolation
During the process of isolating the extract from a CO2 extraction, a crucial step involves depressurizing the CO2. This depressurization leads to a phase change wherein the supercritical fluid transitions into a gas state. This transformation in density causes the dissolved compounds to separate from the CO2. As the CO2 gas escapes, the extract remains free from any contamination by the extracting fluid, ensuring its purity.
4. Recycle
By manipulating the pressure and temperature of CO2, we can induce a transition from its supercritical fluid state to a gaseous form. This manipulation is performed to facilitate the collection of materials during an extraction process. Simultaneously, we have the capability to re-condense the uncontaminated CO2, bringing it back to its liquid phase. This re-condensed CO2 can then be prepared for re-compression in our extraction process, ensuring its reusability.
5. Environmentally Responsible
In contrast to other solvent extraction methods, CO2 can be obtained as a by-product from various industrial processes, making it a sustainable and environmentally friendly option. The renewable and abundant nature of CO2 is one of its most appealing characteristics, making it highly desirable as an alternative solvent choice.