Laboratory
Supercritical Fluids
High pressure reactors, view cells and a pilot plant for research with dense CO2 and other fluids.
What this laboratory does
The Supercritical Fluids laboratory develops new applications of supercritical fluids and of fluids at high pressure and temperature. Projects range from concentrating natural products and impregnating polymers to studying how CO2 moves through porous rock, and to making new materials and catalytic solids. The laboratory has reactors from 10 millilitres to 16 litres, view cells for phase observation and a pilot plant.
Capabilities
High pressure reactorsFrom 10 millilitres to 16 litres
Pilot plantUp to 500 bar and 400 degrees Celsius
View cellsDirect observation of phase behaviour
Materials synthesisAerogels, particles and impregnated polymers
Methods and equipment
- High pressure batch and continuous reactors
- Supercritical pilot plant
- Variable volume view cells
- Phase equilibrium and solubility measurement
- Extraction, micronisation and impregnation
- Polymer and natural product processing
Research lines served
This laboratory supports work across the following research lines. A project may use the laboratory for a single measurement or for a long programme of work.