Green Chemistry Using Liquid and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

When carbon dioxide is compressed to a liquid or, above its critical point, to a supercritical fluid, it can be used in chemical processes that are more benign to the environment than previous processes. Benefits may include replacing nasty solvents, increased energy efficiency, better separations, and even entirely new processes. Yes, it is a greenhouse gas, but users can acquire it from natural sources or as a by-product of industrial processes rather than producing more of it. Chemists f...