Biphasic systems constituted by supercritical carbon dioxide and their applications in catalytic reactions

As a green solvent, supercritical carbon dioxide(ScCO₂) has attracted much more attention due to its unique properties and environmental benignity. The biphasic systems, which were constituted with ScCO₂ phase and a liquid phase, have the especial advantages both of homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, as well as the ability to couple the reaction and separation into only one integrated process easily. Recent applications of the biphasic systems constituted by ScCO₂(including ScCO₂-H₂O, ScCO₂-organic solvent, and ScCO₂-ionic liquid biphasic systems)were reviewed especially for coupling catalytic reaction and separation processes. Furthermore, the state of arts in the research of the biphasic systems constituted by ScCO₂ was also discussed to provide a reference for developing high efficient and clean processes for catalytic reactions.