- Purification of industrial wastes by oxidation in sub- and supercritical water.
Application of high pressure processes, including both Chemical Reactors and Separation Operations, using Supercritical Fluids (FSC), in any field of Chemical and Process Engineering. Among them:
1) Extraction processes that use FSC as solvents to obtain components of interest (industrial, agri-food, pharmaceutical, etc.) from any raw material, solid or liquid, in an efficient manner, without solvent residues in the final product and without altering its natural qualities. Examples of PM (and products obtained): pomace (anthocyanins, lycopene, resveratrol), grape seed (oil), borage (oil), sunflower (herbicides and oil), wheat germ (oil, tocopherols), soya (oil), microalgae (chlorophyll, carotenes), etc.
2) Precipitation/Impregnation processes, to obtain solid materials in powder form, with particles of micro- and nano-metric size and with controlled geometry and size distribution, by precipitation with an FSC. Of special interest to the agro-food and pharmaceutical industry for the production of additives, aromas, colorants or drugs, with controlled absorption (anthocyanins, carotenes, amoxicillin, ampicillin, etc.) Encapsulation of these particles in biocompatible polymers.
3) Hydrothermal Oxidation/Gasification processes for the treatment (purification) of industrial discharges and toxic or hazardous waste by means of their complete oxidation/gasification in an FSC. This technology is useful for treating any organic waste or spillage: used oils, sewage sludge, vinasse, drilling emulsions, hospital waste, etc.