An alternative method for extraction of therapeutically beneficial compounds such as sterols, fatty acids, and tocopherols from cranberry seeds with pure SF CO2 has been provided. The supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) operating conditions such as extraction temperature, pressure of CO2, extraction time, and CO2 flow rate were optimized to maximize the extraction yield. The amount and type of SF extractables (pure CO₂) have been compared with Soxhlet extractables (hexane) to evaluate the feasibility of SFE as an alternative extraction method. The extractables obtained via hexane and SF CO₂, which were derivatized and identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), contained mostly methylated fatty acids. / Master of Science

No / Purpose The relative lung bioavailability of salbutamol sulfate particles produced using supercritical fluids (SEDS¿) and delivered by dry powder inhaler (DPI) was compared with the performance of a conventional micronized drug DPI using the same device design (Clickhaler¿, Innovata Biomed). Materials and Methods Twelve healthy volunteers and 11 mild asthmatic patients completed separate four-way randomised cross-over studies, assessing the relative bioavailability of salbutamol sulfate (urinary excretion method), formulated as SEDS¿ particles (three batches) and micronized particles (Asmasal¿ inhaler, UCB Pharma Ltd). Post-treatment improvements in patient lung function were assessed by measuring FEV1. Physicochemical evaluation of the three SEDS¿ batches revealed inter-batch differences in particle size and shape. Results There was no significant difference in the relative lung bioavailability of salbutamol and its bronchodilator response between the best performing SEDS¿ formulation and the Asmasal¿ inhaler in volunteers and patients, respectively. SEDS¿ salbutamol sulfate showing wafer like morphology gave greater fine particle dose, relative lung bioavailability and enhanced bronchodilation compared to other SEDS¿ batches containing elongated particles. Conclusions Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufactured using supercritical fluids and delivered by DPI can provide similar lung bioavailability and clinical effect to the conventional micronized commercial product. Product performance is however notably influenced by inter-batch differences in particle characteristics.

L’objectif de ce travail est d’étudier l’influence de jets d’impact libres utilisés comme mode de mise en contact des phases dans les procédés de recristallisation utilisant un fluide supercritique comme anti-solvant. L’influence des variations de plusieurs paramètres opératoires sur l’hydrodynamique des jets et sur les caractéristiques des poudres de Sulfathiazole a été étudiée. Les paramètres sont la vitesse des jets (de 0,25 m.s-1 à 25,92 m,s-1), le rapport molaire solvant/CO2 (de 2,5 % à 20 %), la température (de 313 K à 343 K), la pression (10 MPa à 20 MPa) et la concentration du soluté dans la solution (de 0,5 % à 1,8 %). Les conditions de mélange ont été caractérisées par l’estimation des puissances dissipées par les jets d’impact, variant de 0,1 à 158 W.kg-1 dans les conditions étudiées. Les résultats ont montré que la vitesse des jets et la sursaturation sont deux paramètres-clés contrôlant la cristallisation avec un effet prépondérant de la sursaturation. Les cristaux obtenus ont des tailles, distributions de taille, faciès et nature polymorphique différents selon les conditions. La forme polymorphique la plus stable a été obtenue pure ou en mélange. Une comparaison avec le procédé SAS classique a montré que les particules sont significativement plus petites lorsqu’elles sont cristallisées avec les jets d’impact, ce qui confirme que ce dispositif créant un mélange plus intense, permet d’accélérer la cinétique de nucléation.Ce travail devrait contribuer à une meilleure maîtrise des procédés de cristallisation en milieu supercritique. / The aim of this work is to study the influence of free impinging jets used for the fluids’introduction in supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) processes. The influence of the variations of several operating parameters upon jets’ hydrodynamics and upon the powder characteristics is studied. Parameters are jets velocity (0.25 m.s-1 to 25.92 m.s-1), molar ratio solvent / CO2 (2.5 % to 20 %), temperature (313 K to 343 K), pressure (10 MPa to 20 MPa) and solute concentration in the organic solution (0.5 % to 1.8 %). Mixing conditions have been characterized estimating the dissipated powers of the impinging jets, varying from 0,1 à 158 W.kg-1 in the studied conditions. The results showed that jets velocity and supersaturation are two key-parameters controlling the crystallization with a preponderant effect of supersaturation. The obtained crystals have different size, particle size distribution, habit and polymorphic nature depending on the conditions. The most stable polymorphic form has been obtained pure or in mixture.A comparison with the classical SAS process showed that mean particle sizes are significantly smaller with impinging jets device proving that this device, creating a more efficient mixing, enhances the nucleation kinetics.This work may contribute to a better control of processes of crystallization in supercritical media.

Dióxido de carbono supercrítico (scCO2) é um solvente pouco eficiente para substâncias polares em geral. Uma maneira interessante de superar esta limitação e explorar todo o seu potencial como solvente verde, possível substituto para os solventes orgânicos voláteis comuns, é a introdução de tensoativos específicos para scCO2 no sistema. No presente trabalho, foram sintetizadas três novas séries de tensoativos oxigenados para scCO2. As moléculas possuem cabeças CO2-fóbicas mono e poli-hidroxiladas, em sua maioria à base de açúcares, e três tipos de cadeias CO2-fílicas, duas delas perfluoradas (-C7F15 e -C9F19) e uma peracetilada (derivada do ácido D-glucônico). Foram investigadas as suas solubilidades e comportamentos de fase em CO2 e em sistemas ternários (água-CO2-tensoativo), bem como a atividade na interface CO2-água. Todos eles dispersaram água em scCO2 com [água] / [tensoativo] (W) igual a 10, exibindo pressões de névoa comparáveis àquelas do sistema \"a seco\". Adicionalmente, os tensoativos reduziram a tensão interfacial CO2-água. O efeito das cabeças CO2-fóbicas e cadeias CO2-fílicas nessa redução pôde ser analisado separadamente. Os resultados dos experimentos de tensão interfacial dinâmica sugerem que tanto a difusão das moléculas da fase contínua para a subinterface, quanto a sua inserção e migração na interface contribuem para o decaimento das tensões interfaciais. / Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) is a poor solvent for polar substances in general. An interesting way to overcome this limitation and fulfill its potential as a green solvent, a possible substitute for common volatile organic solvents, is the introduction of scCO2-suitable surfactants in the system. In the present work, three series of novel oxygenated surfactants for scCO2 were synthesized. The amphiphiles contain mono and poly-hydroxylated CO2-phobic heads, most of them sugar-based, as well as three types of CO2-philic tails, two of them perfluorinated (-C7F15 and -C9F19) and one peracetylated (D-gluconic acid derivative). Their solubilities and phase behaviors in CO2 and in ternary systems (water-CO2-surfactant), as well as their activities at the CO2-water interface, were investigated. All of them dispersed water in scCO2- with water-to-surfactant ratio (W) of 10, exhibiting cloud pressures comparable to those of \"dry\" systems. Also, the surfactants reduced the CO2-water interfacial tension. The effect of both the CO2-phobic heads and the CO2-philic tails could be analyzed separately. Dynamic interfacial tension results suggest that both diffusion from bulk CO2 to subinterface and insertion and migration of molecules within the interface contribute to the time-dependent decay of the interfacial tensions.

Dióxido de carbono supercrítico (scCO2) é um solvente pouco eficiente para substâncias polares em geral. Uma maneira interessante de superar esta limitação e explorar todo o seu potencial como solvente verde, possível substituto para os solventes orgânicos voláteis comuns, é a introdução de tensoativos específicos para scCO2 no sistema. No presente trabalho, foram sintetizadas três novas séries de tensoativos oxigenados para scCO2. As moléculas possuem cabeças CO2-fóbicas mono e poli-hidroxiladas, em sua maioria à base de açúcares, e três tipos de cadeias CO2-fílicas, duas delas perfluoradas (-C7F15 e -C9F19) e uma peracetilada (derivada do ácido D-glucônico). Foram investigadas as suas solubilidades e comportamentos de fase em CO2 e em sistemas ternários (água-CO2-tensoativo), bem como a atividade na interface CO2-água. Todos eles dispersaram água em scCO2 com [água] / [tensoativo] (W) igual a 10, exibindo pressões de névoa comparáveis àquelas do sistema \"a seco\". Adicionalmente, os tensoativos reduziram a tensão interfacial CO2-água. O efeito das cabeças CO2-fóbicas e cadeias CO2-fílicas nessa redução pôde ser analisado separadamente. Os resultados dos experimentos de tensão interfacial dinâmica sugerem que tanto a difusão das moléculas da fase contínua para a subinterface, quanto a sua inserção e migração na interface contribuem para o decaimento das tensões interfaciais. / Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) is a poor solvent for polar substances in general. An interesting way to overcome this limitation and fulfill its potential as a green solvent, a possible substitute for common volatile organic solvents, is the introduction of scCO2-suitable surfactants in the system. In the present work, three series of novel oxygenated surfactants for scCO2 were synthesized. The amphiphiles contain mono and poly-hydroxylated CO2-phobic heads, most of them sugar-based, as well as three types of CO2-philic tails, two of them perfluorinated (-C7F15 and -C9F19) and one peracetylated (D-gluconic acid derivative). Their solubilities and phase behaviors in CO2 and in ternary systems (water-CO2-surfactant), as well as their activities at the CO2-water interface, were investigated. All of them dispersed water in scCO2- with water-to-surfactant ratio (W) of 10, exhibiting cloud pressures comparable to those of \"dry\" systems. Also, the surfactants reduced the CO2-water interfacial tension. The effect of both the CO2-phobic heads and the CO2-philic tails could be analyzed separately. Dynamic interfacial tension results suggest that both diffusion from bulk CO2 to subinterface and insertion and migration of molecules within the interface contribute to the time-dependent decay of the interfacial tensions.

Gas-expanded liquids (GXLs) are novel and environmentally benign solvent systems with applications in reactions, separations, nanotechnology, drug delivery, and microelectronics. GXLs are liquid mixtures consisting of an organic solvent combined with a benign gas, such as CO2, in the nearcritical regime. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations have been combined with experimental techniques to elucidate the cybotactic region or local environment in gas-expanded liquids. Molecular dynamics simulations show clustering of methanol molecules in carbon dioxide-methanol mixtures. This clustering was not observed in carbon dioxide-acetone mixtures. Furthermore, addition of carbon dioxide enhances diffusivity of solutes in gas-expanded media as shown by both simulations and Taylor-Aris dispersion experiments. Finally, local structure and local compositions around pyrene in carbon dioxide-methanol and carbon-dioxide acetone were investigated using simulations and UV-vis spectroscopy.

The separation of the expensive catalysts from the solvent and reaction products remains one of the major disadvantages of homogeneous catalytic reactions, which are otherwise advantageous because of their high activity, tuneable selectivity and ease of study. Ideally, the homogeneous reactions would be carried out in continuous flow mode with the catalyst remaining in the reactor at all times, whilst the substrates and products flow over the catalyst. The system we have been studying is one where the catalyst is dissolved in a thin film of an ionic liquid, and this is supported within the pores of a microporous silica. This supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) catalyst is then placed in a tubular flow reactor, similar to that used for heterogeneous reactions. The raw materials are then injected into the rig, pass through the reactor and the products and the raw materials that have not reacted are collected at the other end of the rig. Supercritical CO₂ is used to transport the raw materials and products along the catalyst bed, allowing a continuous flow mode with low leaching for both the catalyst and the ionic liquid. We have applied this procedure first to alkene metathesis catalysed by a ruthenium complex that has been especially designed to dissolve in 1-butyl-3-methyimidazolium triflamide (BMIM NTf₂), which was used as ionic liquid. Activity is observed for the ring closing metathesis of diethyl 2,2-diallylmalonate, but the catalyst is not stable, only allowing about 300 turnovers. This instability is attributed to the formation of Ru=CH₂ moieties, which dimerise to an inactive species. More success is achieved with internal alkenes such as 2-octene and especially methyl oleate. Self metathesis of methyl oleate continues for >10.000 turnovers over 10 h, with only small decreases in activity. The cross metathesis of methyl oleate with dimethyl maleate has also been studied. Cross metathesis dominates in the early stages of the reaction but the cross metathesis products diminish with time. Surprisingly, the catalyst does not deactivate since self metathesis of methyl oleate continues. The phase behaviour of the reaction was monitored and gave us an insight into the reasons for this change in selectivity. Methoxycarbonylation reactions in continuous flow proved to be a much more difficult process than the previous metathesis reactions. Higher catalyst loading was needed to reduce the reaction times. The first continuous flow reactions showed conversion predominantly, if not exclusive, of 1-octene isomerised products. The presence of ionic liquid (IL) in the SILP system was essential, otherwise the catalyst leached out of the reactor very quickly. Batch reactions showed that none of the studied parameters (absence of presence of either BMIM NTf₂, OMIM NTf₂, silica or CO₂) had any influence on the reaction, but when observing the results it was noticed that the reactions that gave the best results were performed in a close range of pressures between 55 and 70 bar, indicating that the reaction might be pressure dependent. Further continuous flow reactions in that range of pressures gave the best conversions to methoxycarbonylation products. Unfortunately, at these pressures and without CO₂ the reaction took place in a liquid phase and thus substantial IL and catalyst leaching was observed, causing a decrease in conversion and making the reaction not feasible under continuous flow conditions. Nevertheless, the catalyst system composed of Pd, 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)benzene (DTBPMB) ligand and acid showed an excellent linear selectivity, usually higher than 90%, both in batch and continuous flow reactions. Hydrogenation reactions of dimethyl itaconate (DMI) and dibutyl itaconate (DBI) using Rh-MeDuPhos showed excellent activity and enantioselestivity in a batch mode. In a continuous flow mode IL leaching caused a decrease of the enantioselectivity. The best results were obtained when CO₂ was not present. On the other hand, the absence of CO₂ implied that the reaction was performed in a liquid phase and therefore abundant IL leaching was observed along with a decrease in the enantioselectivity. A study of the reaction behaviour when using CO₂ in its different phases (liquid, gas and supercritical) was carried out. Under supercritical conditions IL leaching was avoided but conversion was not observed. When using CO₂ in its liquid phase some conversion was observed and full conversion occurred in its gas phase, but abundant IL leaching caused a decrease in the enantioselectivity. Better results were obtained by immobilising a Rh-MeDuPhos catalyst onto alumina via heteropoly acids. The effect of pressure, H₂ flow and substrate flow were studied and the stability of the reaction in the long term was examined under optimal conditions. More than 12,900 TONs were achieved after 4 days of continuous reaction, with conversions higher than 90% during the 3 first days and e.e. higher than 99% during the 2 first days.

An extension of the current acetone Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) was formulated for mixing studies of fluids at subcritical and supercritical conditions. The new technique, called Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence and Phosphorescence (PLIFP), employs the difference in the mass diffusivity of the denser (liquid) to the less dense (vapor/supercritical fluid) to delineate the interface where a phase change occurs. The vapor/supercritical acetone fluorescence signal is utilized to measure of the acetone vapor density, the mixture fractions and liquid acetone phosphorescence signal to determine the location of the phase interface. The application of the technique requires the photophysical properties of vapor and liquid acetone to be known. Therefore, a series of controlled experiments were done to determine their photophysics at elevated temperatures and pressures up to T/TC = 1.2 and p/pC =1.25. The demonstration of the techniques shows it was able to provide quantitative measurements of acetone number density and the overall mixture fraction within the test chamber. Also, the size and mass of droplets that have broken off from the main jet were determined as well, though the ability is limited to small droplets (d~100 μm). In addition, the technique was able to delineate the low diffusivity (subcritical)/high diffusivity (supercritical) interface very well.

The use of dense CO2 in polymer processing can provide a response to the need for more environmentally-friendly industrial processes. Products with high-purity, sterility, and porosity can be achieved using dense gas technology (DGT). Currently, DGT has been used in different aspects of polymer processing including polymerization, micronization, and impregnation. Due to its solubility in polymers, CO2 can penetrate and plasticize polymers, while impregnating them with low-molecular weight CO2 -soluble compounds. Biodegradable polymers and other medical-grade polymers have benefited from the application of DGT. Dense CO2 processing properties of inertness, non-toxicity, and affinity for various therapeutic compounds are specifically advantageous to the medical and biomedical industries. In this work, the different applications of DGT in polymer processing are revised, then implemented. The polymerization of polycarbonate (PC) and polycaprolactone (PCL) in dense CO2 are presented. The syntheses of both polymers were successful and were aided by the use of dense CO2 . A multi-stage approach using dense CO2 as a sweep fluid to extract the PC polymerization by-product phenol is reported. Polycaprolactone was synthesized with varying temperatures and dense CO pressures, then impregnated with a CO2 -soluble therapeutic agent. The impregnated PCL acted as a drug reservoir with a drug-loading of 27wt% and a sustained drug release profile was observed for all samples over several days. Polymer blends of PC/PCL have potential industrial and biomedical applications both in vivo and in vitro. The applicability of PCL can be extended by enhancing its mechanical properties by creating a bio-blend with a stronger polymer such as PC. In this work, PC/PCL nonporous and porous blends were produced. Three novel dense CO2 blending techniques were used. The macroporous PC/PCL blend was impregnated with a therapeutic agent using CO2 as the carrier. A drug loading of 20wt% was achieved and sustained drug release was observed over 3 days. The applicability of dense CO2 in polymer processing was further demonstrated by sterilizing macroporous PC/PCL blends and soft hydrogels with dense CO2 . The PC/PCL blends and hydrogels were inoculated with vegetative bacteria and bacterial endospores. Industrial standard sterilization levels were achieved.

Les nanotubes de carbone possèdent d’excellentes propriétés mécaniques, thermiques, électriques…, ce qui en fait un candidat de choix pour le développement de nouveaux matériaux pour de nombreuses applications. Cependant, leur mauvaise dispersion dans les solvants et les matrices reste encore aujourd’hui le principal problème pour l’obtention de matériaux composites homogènes. Cette thèse présente une nouvelle voie de fonctionnalisation des nanotubes de carbone réalisée en milieux fluides supercritiques. La fonctionnalisation organique proposée via une oxydation de surface des NTC présente de nombreux avantages par rapport aux techniques conventionnelles. La fonctionnalisation inorganique des NTC par les nanoparticules de palladium et d’argent a servi de modèle pour mieux appréhender le dépôt de nanoparticules de cuivre et déboucher ainsi à la réalisation de matériaux composites cuivre/NTC. / Carbon nanotubes possess excellent mechanical, thermal, electrical properties and so on. Therefore they are excellent candidates for the development of new materials potentially used in numerous applications. However, obtaining homogenous composite materials requires, as well in solvents or in matrices, a good dispersion of carbon nanotubes which is still a problem. This work presents a new way to functionalize carbon nanotubes using supercritical fluids. The proposed organic functionalization, a surface oxidation of carbon nanotubes, turns out to be favourable compared with conventional techniques. Inorganic functionnalization was first performed with palladium and silver nanoparticles depositions. Information provided by these previous depositions was used to carry out depositions of copper nanoparticles leading to the formation of copper/CNT composites.