Using supercritical fluids for chemical reactions is a recently very active area of intense research and development. The developments are targeting to reduce or eliminate the disadvantages of conventional technologies such as:

• Production of by-products or waste streams,
• Low yields,
• Reaction rate difficult to control.

In many applications supercritical CO₂ is used as solvent or agent for chemical reactions (e.g. polymerisation). Some activities investigate the use of supercritical water as a reaction medium. Based on experience with the SCWO process (supercritical water oxidation) a process for gasification of biomass is under development. The SCWG process (supercritical water gasification) produces hydrogen or synthesis gas from biomass in liquid form or sludges.

With this process organic substance (biomass) is converted by means of supercritical water, without the addition of oxygen. During this conversion hydrogen from organic substance as well as from water is released. The carbon is oxidized primarily to CO₂. This new process was already demonstrated in pilot scale and promises a big potential in the effective production of regenerative fuels. Supercritical fluids offer a big potential for the production of chemical high-class products in future. Uhde already delivers today many components and complete plants for supercritical processes. This experience makes Uhde a competent partner in case of reactions in supercritical fluids.