Supercritical fluid extraction of 2,3 butanediol with Co₂: the construction of equipment

A visual flow through apparatus has been constructed and used to determine the high pressure VLE data of an ethanol-ethane system and a 2.3 butanediol-CO₂ system. The ethanol-ethane data were compared to the literature to assure that the equipment produced accurate data. Data from the 2,3 butanediol system can be used to evaluate the feasability of extracting the diol from a fermentation broth using supercritical C O₂ - This apparatus can be used at temperatures ranging from 295 K to 365 K. Pressures from ~1,000 psia to 5,000 psia can be examined. The equipment can be easily adapted to handle a solid - fluid system.