Cleaning process using carbon dioxide as a solvent and employing molecularly engineered surfactants
AssigneeThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
InventorsJoseph M. DeSimone, Timothy J. Romack, Douglas E. Betts, James B. McClain
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Abstract
The separation of a contaminant from a substrate that carries the contaminant is disclosed. The process comprises contacting the substrate to a carbon dioxide fluid containing an amphiphilic species wherein the contaminant associates with the amphiphilic species and becomes entrained in the carbon dioxide fluid. The substrate is then separated from the carbon dioxide fluid, and then the contaminant is separated from the carbon dioxide fluid.
Claims34
A process for separating a contaminant from a substrate that carries the contaminant comprising:
- contacting said substrate with a carbon dioxide fluid containing an amphiphilic species so that said contaminant associates with said amphiphilic species and becomes entrained in said carbon dioxide fluid, said substrate being selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, glass, and composite mixtures thereof;
- and then
- separating said substrate from said carbon dioxide fluid having said contaminant entrained therein.
A process for separating a contaminant from a substrate that carries the contaminant comprising:
- contacting said substrate with a carbon dioxide fluid containing an amphiphilic species so that said contaminant associates with said amphiphilic species and becomes entrained in said carbon dioxide fluid, said substrate being selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, glass, and composite mixtures thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.