Southwest Research Institute

John G Franjione

Mary C Marshall

Christopher J Freitas

Gordon D Pollard

Jill Blake

William T Roberds

An apparatus comprising multiple heating, cooling, and/or cleaning zones. The apparatus produces a jet flow of solvent/cleaning fluid onto an article to be cleaned without the need for a pump or compressor. The jet flow provides more effective contaminant removal. The multiple zones result in increased residence time for increased efficiency in separating the solubilized contaminant from the solvent/cleaning fluid.

Apparatus for contaminant removal using natural convection flow and changes in solubility concentrations by temperature

Apparatus and methods are described for removing contaminants from an article using a supercritical or near supercritical solvent fluid held at substantially constant pressure in a pressure vessel. The article to be cleaned is first contacted with a solvent fluid in which the contaminant is soluble at a first supercritical or near-supercritical temperature. The contaminant-containing fluid is then cooled or heated to a second supercritical or near supercritical temperature to lower the solubility of the contaminant in the supercritical fluid and thereby precipitate or phase separate the contaminant. The contaminant is then recovered. Movement of the solvent fluid within the pressure vessel is preferably by convection induced by heating and cooling means in the vessel.

Apparatus for contaminant removal using natural convection flow and changes in solubility concentration by temperature

Apparatus and methods are described for removing contaminants from an article using a supercritical or near supercritical solvent fluid held at substantially constant pressure in a pressure vessel. The article to be cleaned is first contacted with a solvent fluid in which the contaminant is soluble at a first supercritical or near-supercritical temperature. The contaminate-containing fluid is then cooled or heated to a second supercritical or near supercritical temperature to lower the solubility of the contaminant in the supercritical fluid and thereby precipitate or phase separate the contaminant. The contaminant is then recovered. Movement of the solvent fluid within the pressure vessel is preferably by convection induced by heating and cooling means in the vessel.

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Attleboro, MA, United States of America

John G Franjione