Supercritical CO2 (SC CO2) impregnation has been studied for some fifteen years and is already used in industry for certain applications. Compared with techniques using conventional impregnation solvents, the use of CO2 SC offers a number of advantages. It is a clean compound, whose specific properties (high density, low viscosity, low interfacial tension and higher diffusivity than liquids) enable high impregnation rates to be achieved, with homogeneous distribution of the impregnated compound within the impregnating support. The use of CO2 SC simplifies the impregnation process insofar as it separates spontaneously from the impregnated supports by simple depressurization.

At M2P2, our team works on the impregnation of active pharmaceutical ingredients on substrates such as silica or on all types of polymers. Over the last ten years, research has focused mainly on the impregnation of polymeric implants.

The Laboratory has particular expertise in the maintenance of polymer properties after supercritical CO2 treatment.