Teledyne SyriXus 65x Installation And Operation Manual page 8

Supercritical Fluid Extraction Laboratory Staff - Warning to Users
Supercritical Fluid Extraction Laboratory Staff - Warning to Users
WARNING: PLEASE READ
At the request of our Supercritical Fluid Extraction laboratory staff, we want our cus-
tomers to be aware of the potential hazards involved with supercritical fluid extraction.
Oxidizing gases, such as nitrous oxide, in contact with organic matrices or flammable modifiers, can
detonate under certain conditions. Likewise, flammable fluids, such as methane, under high
pressure conditions can present a hazard.
With concern for the safety of our customers, we have designed our equipment to be as safe as pos-
sible. However, we do not recommend the use of our instrument with potentially explosive reactions.
The letter below, which appeared in the July 22, 1991 edition of Chemical and Engineering News, is
reprinted with permission from Professor Robert E. Sievers and his colleagues at the University of
Colorado at Boulder. Even though they were not performing supercritical fluid extraction, it details
the problems their lab experienced using nitrous oxide under similar conditions. We add our support
for their suggestion to use only carbon dioxide or other less hazardous fluids for supercritical fluid
extraction.
EAR99 Technology Subject to Restrictions Contained on the Cover Page
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