Abstract: A system for monitoring and obtaining spectral data from a supercritical fluid process. The system includes a process vessel containing a supercritical fluid, a light source, and a spectrometer. Sampling light emitted by the light source is transmitted into the internal cavity of the process vessel and reflected back to the spectrometer for processing and analysis. The reflected sampling light includes spectral data about the supercritical fluid, thereby allowing process parameters such as the concentration levels of the fluid in the vessel to be generated and monitored for determining the progress of the reaction. Carbon dioxide may be used as the supercritical fluid. In one embodiment, the system may be used in a supercritical fluid textile dyeing process to monitor the progress of the textile colorization.

Abstract: A pressure relief system for depressurizing a bottled pressure vessel. In one embodiment, the system includes a pressure relief device having a hollow outer member coupled to a fluid port in the vessel and an inner member at least partially disposed in and movably supported by the outer member. The system may further include a rupture disk disposed in the port between the vessel interior and exterior. In operation, the outer member remains stationary while the inner member is advanceable therein towards the pressure vessel. In one embodiment, the inner member includes a piercing element which is projectable to penetrate the rupture disk and into the vessel interior through material deposits that may obstruct the fluid port thereby releasing captive pressure in the vessel.

Abstract: A liquid flash chromatography process and system are disclosed for separating a sample. The process uses a compressible fluid such as liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) in one embodiment. The liquid CO2 forms the mobile phase into which a suitable solvent is be added for conducting the sample separation. In one embodiment, the process includes depressurizing the CO2 by lowering its temperature via cooling to maintain the CO2 in liquid phase through the chromatographic separation column. The CO2 pressure is maintained below 50 bar in some embodiments thereby obviating the need for high pressure pumps and heavily structured process components such as the column and other equipment to contain high pressure. In some embodiments, the liquid phase is cooled from the gas supply vessel through the column to control the CO2 temperature and hence pressure.

Abstract: A pressure relief system for depressurizing a bottled pressure vessel. In one embodiment, the system includes a pressure relief device having a hollow outer member coupled to a fluid port in the vessel and an inner member at least partially disposed in and movably supported by the outer member. The system may further include a rupture disk disposed in the port between the vessel interior and exterior. In operation, the outer member remains stationary while the inner member is advanceable therein towards the pressure vessel. In one embodiment, the inner member includes a piercing element which is projectable to penetrate the rupture disk and into the vessel interior through material deposits that may obstruct the fluid port thereby releasing captive pressure in the vessel.

Abstract: An automated, integrated system for programmably selectively extracting and purifying one or more particular solutes from a contaminated solution, said purified solutes then being recovered as a concentrated solution suitable for analysis.

Abstract: An automated, integrated system for programmably selectively extracting and purifying one or more particular solutes from a contaminated solution, said purified solutes then being recovered as a concentrated solution suitable for analysis.