Supercritical Fluids Laboratory (SCF-LAB)

Head Staff PhD Students

dr inż. Jan Krzysztoforski
jan.krzysztoforski@pw.edu.pl

 prof. dr hab. inż. Marek Henczka
dr inż. Małgorzata Djas
dr inż. Katarzyna Kramek-Romanowska 		mgr inż. Piotr Cendrowski
mgr inż. Katarzyna Kosowska
     

The Supercritical Fluids Laboratory (SCF-LAB) operates in the Department of Engineering and Dynamics of Chemical Reactors at the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology. The Laboratory is equipped with apparatuses that enable the study of high-pressure processes, particularly using supercritical fluids, for applications in chemical engineering, biotechnology, biomedical engineering and materials engineering, among others.

The Laboratory's research topics include:

  • physical and reactive supercritical extraction, including using raw materials of natural origin,
  • fabrication and processing of functional materials,
  • processing of carbon nanomaterials,
  • mathematical modeling, design and optimization of processes involving supercritical fluids.
High-pressure reactor (AMAR, volume 100 ml, working pressure up to 20 MPa) for conducting physical and chemical transformations using supercritical fluids.

The Laboratory's staff has extensive experience in the design, experimental investigation and mathematical modeling of high-pressure processes, gained during the implementation of numerous research and R&D projects, including in collaboration with scientific and industrial partners.

Research infrastructure

  • Spe-ed SFE 2 supercritical extraction test system, Applied Separations (100 ml, up to 69 MPa)
  • Parr Instrument Company high-pressure reactor (600 or 1200 ml, up to 20 MPa)
  • Amar Equipment high-pressure reactor (100 ml, up to 20 MPa)
  • SFT-10 high-pressure pump for CO2, Supercritical Fluid Technologies (up to 24 ml/min, up to 69 MPa)
  • Knauer high-pressure pump for co-solvents (up to 10 ml/min, up to 40 MPa)
  • Soxhlet apparatus for extraction using liquid solvents
  • auxiliary apparatuses (laboratory dryer, laboratory mill, sieves, distillation system, filtration system)
  • advanced analytical equipment

Key projects

  • HERB Biorefinery for processing hemp (NCBR, LIDER XIV, 2024-2027)
  • Manufacturing of catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction based on reduced graphene oxide using supercritical fluids (IDUB PW, 2021–2022)
  • Oil extraction technology with high content of Omega-3 fatty acids (Green Goods sp. z o.o., 2018–2019)
  • Transport phenomena in the process for microfiltration membrane cleaning using supercritical fluids (NCN, PRELUDIUM 8, 2015–2017)
  • Research and modeling of the process of reactive extraction of carboxylic acids using supercritical carbon dioxide (NCN, PRELUDIUM 5, 2014–2016)
  • Integrated processes of reactive extraction using supercritical fluids (MNiSW, 2010–2014)

Services

  • study of supercritical extraction processes using liquid and solid raw materials and their comparison with classical solvent extraction
  • study of reactive extraction processes with supercritical fluids
  • study of the course of chemical reactions in the environment of supercritical fluids
  • study of purification processes of porous materials using supercritical fluids
  • treatment of materials using supercritical fluids
  • foaming of biopolymers using supercritical fluids
  • mathematical modeling, design, optimization, scale-up and cost analysis of processes involving supercritical fluids
  • analysis of the composition and physicochemical and biological properties of the obtained extracts and materials