Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/K84929/01
Title:	CLEAN CHEMISTRY IN NEAR-CRITICAL AND SUPERCRITICAL WATER
Principal Investigator:	Poliakoff, Professor M
Other Investigators:	Pattenden, Professor G Pulham, Dr R
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	ICI Thomas Swan
Department:	Sch of Chemistry
Organisation:	University of Nottingham
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 October 1996	Ends:	31 March 2000	Value (£):	209,692
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Chemical Synthetic Methodology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Chemicals
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Water has obvious attractions as a solvent for clean chemistry. Near-critical and supercritical water (scH2O) have increased acidity, reduced density and lowered polarity, greatly extending the potential of water as a reaction medium. scH2O has already been studied extensively for the total oxidation of hazardous and toxic wastes. In the proposal, we aim to establish how scH2O can be exploited most effectively for organic reaction chemistry leading to useful products. We seek EPSRC support to develop our preliminary work in this area. We have devised prototype apparatus, a miniature batch reactor and a larger scale flow reactor both of which can handle water at any temperature from ambient to supercritical, without many of the previous experimental difficulties of handling scH2O. We have three objectives (1) developing chemistry in near-critical and supercritical H2O with particular emphasis on partial oxidation processes and on organic synthesis of relevance to the fine chemicals industry, (2) monitoring and understanding corrosion in scH2O under these conditions and (3) developing high pressure techniques, appropriate for use on both laboratory and technical scale. Specifically, we request funding for essential manpower (PDRA plus post-graduate student), additional high pressure equipment, technical assistance and consumables. We have strong interest and support from industry.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.nottingham.ac.uk