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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Supercritical fluid extraction

Patent ·
OSTI ID:869559
A method of extracting metalloid and metal species from a solid or liquid material by exposing the material to a supercritical fluid solvent containing a chelating agent. The chelating agent forms chelates that are soluble in the supercritical fluid to allow removal of the species from the material. In preferred embodiments, the extraction solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide and the chelating agent is a fluorinated or lipophilic crown ether or fluorinated dithiocarbamate. The method provides an environmentally benign process for removing contaminants from industrial waste without using acids or biologically harmful solvents. The chelate and supercritical fluid can be regenerated, and the contaminant species recovered, to provide an economic, efficient process.
Assignee:
Idaho Research Foundation, Inc. (Moscow, ID)
Patent Number(s):
US 5356538
OSTI ID:
869559
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English