The use of supercritical carbon dioxide is emerging as a potential method for achieving pollution-free dyeing. An important factor in supercritical fluid dyeing is the solubility of the dye in supercritical carbon dioxide. Our measurements show that the solubility of C.I. Disperse Red-60 dye in supercritical carbon dioxide is significantly enhanced upon addition of polar cosolvents : ethanol and acetone. The solubility enhancement is attributed to the formation of hydrogen bonds between cosolvent and dye molecules. Observed solubility behavior is correlated using dilute-solution theory with lattice-fluid-hydrogen-bonding model. Needed physical and hydrogen-bonding molecular parameters are estimated using the experimental data.
Schmitt WJ, Reid RC, "The Influence of the Solvent Gas on the Solubility and Selectivity in Supercritical Extraction," In Supercritical Fluid Technology; Penninger, J.M., et al., eds.; Elsevier; New York, 123, 1985
Shim JJ, Johnston KP, AIChE J., 35(7), 1097, 1989
Sung HD, Shim JJ, J. Supercrit. Fluids, submitted, 1999