Supercritical Fluids in Natural Product and Biomass Processing - An Introduction

Supercritical fluids are gases at pressures and temperatures slightly above those of the vapour-liquid critical point. At this point, liquid and vapour become indistinguishable, and the vapour pressure curve of the liquid ends. The main unique characteristic of the supercritical condition is that the density of the fluid is very sensitive to small changes in pressure and temperature. These properties make supercritical fluids, especially carbon dioxide and water, very attractive and selective solvents for academic, but also industrial, application.