CO2 Technology
SO WHAT IS CO2 TECHNOLOGY ANYWAY?
We use carbon dioxide as a processing solvent. We specialize in using CO2 which is highly pressurized, known as supercritical CO2. At atmospheric conditions carbon dioxide is a gas. By increasing temperature and pressure above 31°C and 73 bar respectively, CO2 behaves quite differently. It is neither a liquid nor a gas, but a supercritical fluid. Supercritical CO2 possesses a unique combination of gas-like viscosity and liquid-like density.
The low process temperature allows for gentle processing, while the low surface tension of supercritical fluid CO2 and its high diffusivity allows for exceptionally effective penetration.
There exists a wide range of potential applications for CO2. Compressed gases like CO2 can be an excellent alternative solvent to conventional organic solvents. It can also provide an entirely new route to new or existing products.
ADVANTAGES
Supercritical CO2 is becoming an important commercial and industrial solvent, largely due to its effective solvency powers and low environmental impact. By using carbon dioxide we avoid using traditional solvents, including hazardous chemicals and precious water resources.
Unlike other solvents, CO2 can be recycled easily. In all of our processes at least 90% of the carbon dioxide is recycled for re-use. Also unlike other solvents, CO2 leaves no residues behind after processing. It is also non-flammable, non-toxic and inexpensive. In most cases the process costs are lower than comparable conventional processes.
Most importantly we don’t create any new CO2 in our processes. We use carbon dioxide that has already been captured as a byproduct of other industrial processes.
OUTLOOK
More and more industries are recognizing CO2 as a promising green technology. Increased environmental awareness had led to restrictions on previously used solvents which are now recognized as toxic. Only a few sustainable solvents remain available for future use. As industries continue to demand more efficient and greener processing, carbon dioxide remains an attractive alternative.
CO2 technology is already commercially applied in a variety of fields – from pharmacy to food sciences to the textile industry. As research continues to investigate the capabilities of CO2, new applications of the technology are developing daily. FeyeCon remains committed to being at the forefront of those developments.