Monthly Archives: November 2011

SFT – Flash 300

0.1 – 300.0 ml/min; 200 psi

Posted in Product News |

SFT – Flash 150

5.0 – 150.0 ml/min (For Each Head); 200 psi

Posted in Product News |

SFT – Flash 100

0.1 – 100.0 ml/min; 0-500 psi

Posted in Product News |

SFT – Analytical Pump

0.001 – 5.000 ml/min Analytical; 18,000 psi

Posted in Product News |

How do I clean the check valves in my SFT-10 SCF Pump Package?

Click Here for Downloadable Instructions In PDF Format

Posted in FAQ |

Can the SFE units of our company use butane and propane as the SCF?

The SFT-110, SFT-110XW, SFT-150, SFT-250, and SFT-NPX-10 units are not designed and manufactured to Class I Division II explosion proof standards and therefore cannot safely be operated with these liquid gas solvents.

Posted in FAQ |

Can my SFT-10 SCF pump argon and xenon?

Xenon has a critical point of 15.9 degrees Celsius and 841 psi and it is indeed theoretically possible that the SFT-10 SCF pump can pump this fluid. However, the solvating properties are similar enough to warrant using SCF CO2 over … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

How do I reinstall the 5 micron filter disc in my sample vessel?

The 5 micron discs typically have loose tolerances from our supplier (meaning they tend to fall out like you are experiencing, because they are slightly smaller than the slot for them to fit in within the sample vessel cover). What … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

What is a cyclonic separator?

The term a “cyclonic separator” is used to designate a type of collection assembly that allows the material that has been extracted from the sample vessel to be collected through running the outlet tubing of the sample vessel/back pressure regulator … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

What are the different pumps used in SFE and how do they work?

Supercritical Fluid Technologies employs various types of pumping packages for their SFE units. Our analytical scale SFT-110 and SFT-110XW SFE units employ electrically driven pulseless pumps similar to traditional HPLC technology. However, the pump cools the liquid CO2 to 0 … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

Can I process with supercritical water in my SFE unit?

Applications for water as a process media range from subcritical water extraction to supercritical water oxidation to supercritical water reaction processes in this application niche. Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) is among the most challenging applications of supercritical technology. Very high … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

What is a variable restrictor?

A variable restrictor, also known as a Back Pressure Regulator (BPR) is a key component in the successful application of supercritical fluid technology. You will note that all of our products have this key component. The restrictor valve allows for … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

Some sample vessels are designated as single ended (SE) and others double ended (DE). What does it mean?

The “single ended” (SE) vessels only open on one end (one cap). The “double ended” (DE) sample vessels have vessel covers on both ends and can be opened on both ends. The smaller vessels are double ended to make it … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

How long does it take to fill a 500 ml vessel with the SFT-10 SCF pump?

The SFT-10 SCF pump operates in a mode that once the CO2 tank regulator is opened, CO2 liquid will flow through the pump and equilibrate into the sample vessel to tank pressure (typically 750 psi given the vapor pressure of … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

How do I change a hand-tight series vessel seal?

Remove the existing o-ring carefully. Be sure that you do not scratch the vessel’s o-ring groove surface with any tools. We recommend using a plastic or wood stick to remove existing o-ring. Clean all surfaces thoroughly with solvent. Clean the … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

What is the purpose of the SFT-250 “over temperature” logic controller?

The “over temperature” logic controller keeps the vessel’s outer wall temperature from getting extremely hot and, in turn, going beyond the internal set temperature of the sample vessel. For example, if you have an internal vessel temperature set to 40oC, … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

Which extraction / reaction vessel is right for me?

Supercritical Fluid Technologies, Inc. offers a wide variety of sample vessels and options to meet our clients’ needs. Vessels ranging from 5 ml up to 5000 ml are available for our standard bench scale units. 20 liter and larger vessels … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

When and why is a “pre-heater” for the fluid recommended?

A liquid CO2 pre-heater is recommended for all extraction work. Regardless of vessel size and despite the use of band heaters, heating efficiency is limited because of the relatively small vessel surface area relative to the total vessel volume. Especially … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

Why and how are co-solvents sometimes used in SFE processes?

A small amount of a co-solvent increases the ability of supercritical carbon dioxide to dissolve polar compounds.  Neat supercritical CO2 has dissolving properties similar to hexane.  This means that, by itself, carbon dioxide is very good for dissolving relatively non-polar … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |

Why not use a helium head space C02 tank instead of a chiller?

The chiller eliminates the need for helium headspace carbon dioxide tanks. The action of pumping heats up the liquid carbon dioxide causing the liquid carbon dioxide to flash in the pumping head to gas. This results in cavitations and low … Continue reading

Posted in FAQ |