Research Initiation Award: Exploitation of Clustering in Supercritical Fluid Solutions for Reactions and Crystallization Process

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In recent work it has been suggested that many of the unusual and attractive properties of supercritical fluids (SCF's), including enhanced solubilities may be explained by solvent and entrainer clustering around the solute that result in local densities and concentrations that are greater than the bulk. It is proposed in a three part program to take advantage of this clustering in reactions and crystallization processes: First, to experimentally determine the effect on the reaction rate of operating in the region near the critical point where entrainers cluster around the solute, which would increase local reactant concentrations: Next, to determine the effect of varying upstream conditions on the characteristics of solid particles formed from the expansion of SCF solutions: And, finally, to develop a chemical/physical theory equation of state to describe SCF phase equilibrium with entrainers present, as encountered in the above two processes, as well as in simple extractions. The overall results of this work will be better use of the unique microscopic properties SCF solvents for reactions and crystallization processes, as well as a more realistically- based and reliable thermodynamic model upon which to design these processes.