Supercritical fluids cleaning

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5753841

Butner, S; Hjeresen, D; Silva, L; Spall, D; Stephenson, R

This paper discusses a proposed multi-party research and development program which seeks to develop supercritical fluid cleaning technology as an alternative to existing solvent cleaning applications. While SCF extraction technology has been in commercial use for several years, the use of these fluids as cleaning agents poses several new technical challenges. Problems inherent in the commercialization of SCF technology include: the cleaning efficacy and compatibility of supercritical working fluids with the parts to be cleaned must be assessed for a variety of materials and components; process parameters and equipment design Have been optimized for extractive applications and must be reconsidered for application to cleaning; and co-solvents and entrainers must be identified to facilitate the removal of polar inorganic and organic contaminants, which are often not well solvated in supercritical systems. The proposed research and development program would address these issues and lead to the development and commercialization of viable SCF-based technology for precision cleaning applications. This paper provides the technical background, program scope, and delineates the responsibilities of each principal participant in the program.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5753841
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-91-1801; CONF-9106193--1; ON: DE91013374
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CERAMICS
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEANING
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
ELEMENTS
GREASES
LUBRICANTS
MANUFACTURING
MATERIALS
METALS
NOZZLES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REMOVAL
SUPERCRITICAL STATE