1. Prologue

1.1 Advantages of supercritical fluid technology and comparison with conventional processes

Processes using supercritical fluids (SCFs) offer an alternative to using organic solvents. The volume of organic solvent needed to formulate an active pharmaceutical ingredient can be reduced compared with conventional processes, and in many cases such solvents can even be avoided completely. The products thus obtained contain low levels of solvent or are completely free from residual traces.

The “clean” nature of these processes and products is the primary asset of these techniques. These processes are also inherently sterile.

Supercritical CO ₂ ( T...