New applications of supercritical fluids and supercritical fluids processes in separation

This presentation is a review of new ideas recently proposed in the field of supercritical fluid (SCF)-and membrane coupled processes or membranes preparation. First, few studies are presented in order to illustrate the preparation of ceramic membranes using the supercritical route. New materials obtained in supercritical conditions lead us to develop original ceramic membrane for filtration or application. The other applications concern coupled supercritical CO2 (SC CO2) extraction with nanofiltration separation to purify low molecular weight compounds. This process has been proposed as an environment safeguarding solution for coupling extraction and separation. Cross-flow filtration applied to viscous liquids fluidified with SC CO2 is also investigated. The basic idea is to reduce liquid viscosity at ordinary temperature by injecting a gas (CO2) in supercritical conditions before filtration. Finally, these works, as well as other examples involving new membrane contactor or reactor types and supercritical fluids as solvents, bear testimony of the main interest to use such hybrid techniques regarding performance and environmental constraints. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.