Chemical reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide: from laboratory to commercial plantThis work was presented at the Green Solvents for Catalysis Meeting held in Bruchsal, Germany, 13–16th October 2002.

Abstract

The application of supercritical carbon dioxide in continuous, fixed bed reactors has allowed the successful development of a variety of industrially viable synthetic transformations. The world’s first, multi-reaction, supercritical flow reactor was commissioned in 2002 as a direct result of the successful collaboration between the Clean Technology Group at the University of Nottingham and the fine chemicals manufacturer, Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. We highlight the development of this project from laboratory to plant scale, particularly in the context of the hydrogenation of isophorone. Phase data for the system; isophorone + H₂ + CO₂, are presented for the first time. Overall, we present a progress report about an on-going Green Chemistry initiative that has successfully forged strong links between Industry and Academia.