Application of Fluids in Supercritical Conditions in the Polymer Industry

Abstract

This article reviews the use of fluids under supercritical conditions in processes related to the modern and innovative polymer industry. The most important processes using supercritical fluids are: extraction, particle formation, micronization, encapsulation, impregnation, polymerization and foaming. This review article briefly describes and characterizes the individual processes, with a focus on extraction, micronization, particle formation and encapsulation. The methods mentioned focus on modifications in the scope of conducting processes in a more ecological manner and showing higher quality efficiency. Nowadays, due to the growing trend of ecological solutions in the chemical industry, we see more and more advanced technological solutions. Less toxic fluids under supercritical conditions can be used as an ecological alternative to organic solvents widely used in the polymer industry. The use of supercritical conditions to conduct these processes creates new opportunities for obtaining materials and products with specialized applications, in particular in the medical, pharmacological, cosmetic and food industries, based on substances of natural sources. The considerations contained in this article are intended to increase the awareness of the need to change the existing techniques. In particular, the importance of using supercritical fluids in more industrial methods and for the development of already known processes, as well as creating new solutions with their use, should be emphasized.

Screening of the Supercritical Impregnation of Olea europaea Leaves Extract into Filaments of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) and Polylactic Acid (PLA) Intended for Biomedical Applications

“…Among the materials that have been used as platforms for impregnation, polymers are the preferred organic compounds, primarily due to their versatility [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. They can be prepared by synthesis or extracted from natural resources, have good mechanical properties, can form solid or semisolid structures using the appropriate method, their chemical structure can be modified, the functional groups can interact with specific drugs, and some of them are biocompatible, which is essential for biomedical applications [ 8 , 9 ].…”

Production of carrier/antioxidant particles by Supercritical Assisted Atomization as an adjuvant treatment of the CoVID-19 pathology

“…Among the various coprecipitation techniques, the processes based on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ) represent a valid alternative to conventional approaches since they allow to obtain a reasonable control of the powders’ morphology and the particle size distribution, avoiding degradation phenomena or product contamination [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] . Indeed, scCO 2 has low critical temperature and pressure values and properties intermediate between the ones of liquids and gases [24] .…”

Organosilicone Compounds in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

“…Supercritical CO 2 (scCO 2 ) is an alternative promising solvent that has been actively used in recent decades to simplify many processes of polymer synthesis, modification, decomposition, etc. [1]. CO 2 is a gas under normal conditions, which allows it to be effectively removed from the resulting material and thus solves the problem of residual solvent.…”