Chemical conversions in supercritical media: Environmentally sound approaches to processes and materials

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/257379· OSTI ID:257379

Burns, C; Borkowsky, S; Buelow, S; Langlois, D; LeLacheur, R; Mitchell, M; Tumas, B; Williams, P ^[1]; Waymouth, R ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
2. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

This is the final report of a two-year, Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The aim of this effort was to evaluate the potential of supercritical fluids (SCF) as reaction media in an effort to develop new, environmentally-friendly methods for chemical synthesis or processing. The use of novel media creates the possibility of opening up substantially different chemical pathways, increasing selectivity (eliminating waste by-products), and enhancing reaction rates (decreasing hold-up times and saving energy). In addition, the use of SCF as reaction media facilitates downstream separations and mitigate or eliminate the need for hazardous solvents on scales from bench top to production. This project employed a highly interdisciplinary approach to investigate the utility of SCFs as reaction media for polymer synthesis and synthetic organic chemistry.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 257379
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--96-1927; ON: DE96012863
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BUTADIENE
CARBON DIOXIDE
DIENES
ENERGY CONSERVATION
FLUORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
MANUFACTURING
MINIMIZATION
POLYACRYLATES
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STYRENE
SUPERCRITICAL GAS EXTRACTION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WASTE MANAGEMENT