| TECHNOLOGY |
H is completely soluble in supercritical CO2, but only slightly soluble in conventional organic solvents. Consequently, reactions proceed with high conversion & few by-prodts. One avoids downstream sepn which can cost more than reaction itself.
Hydrogenation in supercritical fluids takes place quickly enough that continuous reaction equipment can be used. A 4-L continuous CO2-based reactor can turn out 1,000 tons per year of prodt, whereas traditional batch equipment needed to make same vol. would have to be much larger.
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