Applications of Supercritical Fluids in Industrial Analysis, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1993

The continued search for rapid, efficient and cost-effective means of analytical measurement has introduced supercritical fluids into the field of analytical chemistry. Two areas are common: supercritical fluid chroma­ tography and supercritical fluid extraction. Both seek to exploit the unique properties of a gas at temperatures and pressures above the critical point. The most common supercritical fluid is carbon dioxide, employed because of its low critical temperature (31 °C), inertness, purity, non-toxicity and cheapness. Alternative supercritical fluids are also used and often in conjunction with modifiers. The combined gas-like mass transfer and liquid-like solvating characteristics have been used for improved chroma­ tographic separation and faster sample preparation. Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is complementary to gas chro­ matography ( GC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), providing higher efficiency than HPLC, together with the ability to analyse thermally labile and high molecular weight analytes. Both packed and open tubular columns can be employed, providing the capability to analyse a wide range of sample types. In addition, flame ionization detection can be used, thus providing 'universal' detection.

Properties of supercritical fluids. Instrumentation for supercritical fluid chromatography. The anatomy of a supercritical fluid chromatograph. Instrumentation for supercritical fluid extraction. Supercritical fluid chromatography and extraction of pharmaceuticals. Applications of supercritical fluids in polymer analysis. Applications of SFC for polymers. Supercritical fluid extraction. Applications of on-line extraction. Applications of off-line extraction. Applications of supercitical fluids in food science. Applications of supercritical fluids in environmental analysis. Future developments in analytical supercritical fluid technology: some ideas from recent research. Index.