Janki Devi Bajaj Government Girls College, Kota

Project Title:
Phase diagram of co2 and its application in dry cleaning

Ritu
MSc in Chemistry
4th Semester
 Table of Content

Topics Page No.

1. Table of Content 1
2. Introduction 2
3. Phase Diagram of co2 3-4
4. Properties of SCF co2 5
5. Application of co2 in Dry Cleaning Process 6-8

1
 Introduction

▪ A phase diagram is a plot of pressure versus temperature for the solid-liquid, liquid-gas, and solid-gas phase-
transition equilibria of a substance.

▪ It indicates the physical states existing under specific pressure and temperature conditions.

▪ A phase diagram provides the pressure dependence of phase-transition temperatures like melting point, boiling
point, and sublimation point.
▪ The combination of high pressure and low temperature corresponds to the solid phase, whereas the gas phase is
favored at high temperature and low pressure (lower right). The combination of high temperature and high
pressure (upper right) corresponds to a supercritical fluid.

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 Phase diagram of 𝐜𝐨𝟐

➢ The phase diagram of carbon dioxide (CO2) is shown below. It has a melting curve (BD), vaporization curve
(BC), and sublimation curve (AB).

➢ the melting curve of carbon dioxide slopes towards the right. Point B is known as the triple point.

➢ It represents the pressure and temperature at which all three phases of a substance can coexist
simultaneously. Point C is known as the critical point.

➢ It represents the maximum pressure and temperature beyond which the liquid and gaseous phases become
indistinguishable.

➢ At such high temperatures, the gas cannot condense back to liquid, no matter how much pressure is applied.
Beyond the critical point, the substance becomes a supercritical fluid(SCF).

➢ From the triple point, liquid carbon dioxide cannot exist below a pressure of 5.11 atm. It means that at
standard atmospheric pressure of 1 atm, solid carbon dioxide will sublime at -78 °C. For this reason, solid
carbon dioxide is known as dry ice

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4
 Properties of SCF 𝐜𝐨𝟐

▪ it is a relatively cheap and safe option, compared with the rest of SCFs.

▪ It is an inert solvent.

▪ it is nontoxic.

▪ its clean nature not generating residues, and that its critical temperature makes it suitable for working with
compounds that do not resist high temperatures.

▪ it is not flammable.

▪ it is easy to recover and recycle.

▪ SCF CO2 is in the presence of noble metals, it can be hydrogenated producing CO, which is a poison for most
catalysts.

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 Application of 𝐜𝐨𝟐 in Dry Cleaning Process

▪ Chemical processing of textile materials in supercritical carbon dioxide has been identified as one of the alternatives
to water-based conventional processes.

▪ Supercritical carbon dioxide can also be used as a more environmentally friendly solvent for dry cleaning compared
to more traditional solvents such as hydrocarbons and perchloroethylene.

▪ Tetrachloroethene (Cl2C=CCl2) was earlier used as a solvent for dry cleaning. But this solvent causes harm to the
environment as it contaminates the groundwater and is also a suspected carcinogen (cancer causing agent). Thus,
the process using this compound is now being replaced by a process, where SCF carbon dioxide, with a suitable
detergent, is used.

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 Application of 𝐜𝐨𝟐 in Dry Cleaning Process

The Process
1. Clothes are placed inside the drum; our expert artisans then determine the correct programme for the cycle.

2. The cleaning drum is injected with carbon dioxide in both gas and liquid form. It is then put under very high
pressure to condensate the CO2 in gas form into a liquid. Depending on the cycle, the cleaning time varies from 22-
45 minutes.

3. When the clothes are cleaned, the liquid CO2 is pumped back into a holding tank to be reused in the following
cleaning cycles.

4. The gas in the holding tank goes through different chambers to be stored. The dirt falls to the bottom of the tank
and is evacuated through a pipe that is cleaned daily.

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Application of 𝐜𝐨𝟐 in Dry Cleaning Process

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THANKYOU