Projects / Programmes
Visokotlačne tehnologije IV (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.02.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Chemical engineering |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T350 |
Technological sciences |
Chemical technology and engineering |
high pressure technologies, extraction, biochemical reactions, micronization, aerogels, phase equilibria, mass-transfer
Researchers (11)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The research work in the field of high pressure technologies is dealing with:
- the use of supercritical fluids (SCF) such as CO2, propane, butane, dimethylether, etc., as solvents in extraction processes for the isolation of active components from natural materials. For the design of the SCF extraction process the equilibrium data are needed, therefore an intesive research work in the field of phase equilibria (solubility measurements, phase transitions and modeling) is carried out.
- the use of SCF as a medium for biochemical reactions, where the aim of our research work is to develop a synthesis procedure for fatty acid ester production where the synthesis and the separation of products and unreacted reactants would be integrated. A batch stirred tank reactor and a continuously operated packed-bed reactor were investigated. Syntheses were performed at atmospheric pressure in a solvent-free system and at high pressure where supercritical carbon dioxide, n-butane and n-propane were used as reaction media.
- the production of Particles from gas saturated solutions (PGSS). The process was patented in 1997 (EP Nr. 0744992). In our new developed process the compressible medium is dissolved in the melted substance and the so-called gas saturated solution is formed. By the expansion of such a solution through an expansion unit (e.g. nozzle) the compressed medium is evaporated and the solution is cooled. Due to this effect high supersaturation occurs and therefore fine particles are formed.
- Aerogels, where the preparation and the characterization of various aerogels of metal oxides (silica, titania, aluminia,…) and their mixed oxides is carried out. The potential use of these aerogels as catalyst supports is also investigated.
