Hydrothermal and Supercritical Water Processes

 Hydrothermal and Supercritical Water Processes presents an overview on the properties and applications of water at elevated temperatures and pressures. It combines fundamentals with production process aspects. Water is an extraordinary substance. At elevated temperatures (and pressures) its properties change dramatically due to the modifications of the molecular structure of bulk water that varies from a stable three-dimensional network, formed by hydrogen bonds at low and moderate temperatures, to an assembly of separated polar water molecules at high and supercritical temperatures. With varying pressure and temperature, water is turned from a solvent for ionic species to a solvent for polar and non-polar substances. This variability and an enhanced reactivity of water have led to many practical applications and to even more research activities, related to such areas as energy transfer, extraction of functional molecules, unique chemical reactions, biomass conversion and fuel materials processing, destruction of dangerous compounds and recycling of useful ones, growth of monolithic crystals, and preparation of metallic nanoparticles.

This book provides an introduction into the wide range of activities that are possible in aqueous mixtures. It is organized to facilitate understanding of the main features, outlines the main applications, and gives access to further information

Summarizes fundamental properties of water for engineering applications

Compares process and reactor designs

Evaluates processes from thermodynamic, economic, and social impact viewpoints

GERD H. BRUNNER

(Prof. em. of Chemical Engineering)

Institute for Thermal Separation Processes

Hamburg University of Technology

(Institut für Thermische Verfahrenstechnik Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg), Eissendorfer Strasse 38, D-21073 Hamburg, Germany.

Phone: 0049-40-42878-2007

FAX: 0049-40-42878-4072

e-mail: brunner@tuhh.de

Academic qualifications:

• 1968 degree in Chemical Engineering by Technische Universität München, Germany.
• 1972 doctoral degree (Dr.-Ing.) from Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
• 1978 Habilitation (Dr.-Ing. habil.) in Technical Chemistry from Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
• 1980 Assistant Professor at Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• 1982 Full Professor of Chemical Engineering at Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg.
• 2008 retired from active service.

  Industrial experience:

• 1982 - 1990 Senior researcher Siemens-KWU (non-nuclear energy activities), from 1983 as consultant.
• 1989 - now: Consultant to F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG (supercritical fluids application)
• 1982 - now: Consultant to many industrial companies in the field of Supercritical Fluids.

Honorary positions:

• Chair Member of the Academy of Sciences in Hamburg
• Honorary Professor of Chemical Engineering, (Dr. h.c.), Technical University Sofia, 2008

Professional Position

1982 - March 2008 Full Professor, Head of Subdepartment Thermische Verfahrenstechnik

Various position in administration of research and teaching at the Hamburg University of Technology

Actual position:

Prof. em. of Chemical Engineering

Regional Editor of The Journal of Supercritical Fluids

Scientific interests

• Phase equilibria at elevated pressures and temperatures in complex systems
• Transfer processes at elevated pressures and temperatures in complex systems
• Separation processes with supercritical gases, i.e. extraction from solids, countercurrent separations, separation with chromatographic methods (SFC)
• Simulated-moving-bed-separations
• Hydrodynamic behaviour of countercurrent columns
• Pyrolysis of organic compounds
• Hydrolysis of bio-polymers
• Supercritical water: destruction of waste, cleaning of soil
• Enzymes at high pressures, in particular for separation processes
• Electro-Ultra-filtration for biotechnological systems
• Membrane separations of gases at high pressures
• Biodiesel, bio-refinery

Publications:

About 290 publications, including about 15 patents.