en.Wedoany.com Reported - Cool Clean Technologies will present the application of dense-phase carbon dioxide (CO₂) processes in industrial cleaning and extraction at IMTS 2026. This technical presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 2:15 PM in Room W192-B at IMTS29.
Dense-phase carbon dioxide (CO₂) processes have been used in industrial cleaning and extraction for decades. This technology is primarily divided into two forms: liquid CO₂ (LCO₂) and supercritical CO₂ (SCCO₂). Liquid CO₂ processes encompass three types: pure CO₂ cleaning, CO₂ with co-solvent cleaning, and CO₂ with pre-wash agent cleaning. The efficiency of supercritical CO₂ processes depends on parameters such as extraction pressure, temperature, time, and modifier concentration.
This presentation will review the fundamental principles of dense-phase CO₂ technology, demonstrating how it serves as an alternative to traditional solvent methods for addressing industrial cleaning and extraction challenges. Content will cover the basic properties of CO₂ that determine process effectiveness, including density, transport properties, temperature, and solubility, as well as the increasingly important role of modifiers and pre-wash agents in improving CO₂-based processes.
The presentation will summarize key application areas for liquid CO₂ and supercritical CO₂. Liquid CO₂ applications include degreasing, elastomer degassing, critical component cleaning, polymer curing and impregnation, garment dry cleaning, firefighter equipment decontamination, medical device sterilization, and cannabis extraction. Supercritical CO₂ applications encompass currency bundle cleaning, essential oil and fragrance extraction, medical product contaminant removal, and other specialized uses. The presentation will also compare the configurations of liquid CO₂ and supercritical CO₂ systems, covering key components, specifications, layout considerations, and major operational cost factors.
Attendees will gain a practical understanding of dense-phase CO₂ technology, including its capabilities and limitations, suitable applications, equipment options and requirements, and operational cost considerations, enabling them to make informed evaluations of CO₂-based processes as alternatives to traditional solvent cleaning technologies.
The IMTS 2026 conference, supported by AMT and managed by GIE Media, features 69 presentations covering topics such as process innovation, plant operations, quality and inspection, and automation. The conference aims to help manufacturers increase productivity, improve part quality, and cultivate a stable, competent workforce to reduce U.S. manufacturing costs and create new levels of market demand.
The guest speaker for this presentation is Dr. Nelson Sorbo, Vice President of Research and Development at Cool Clean Technologies. He has guided the design and manufacturing of multiple automated CO₂ spray cleaning systems installed worldwide. Dr. Sorbo has also played a key role in developing dense-phase CO₂ process technologies for plant extraction, sterilization, garment cleaning, firefighter equipment cleaning systems, precision cleaning, and degreasing. He holds 17 patents and has published extensively in technical literature.
