Patent ID: 6506259
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: B01D,B08B,C23G

Abstract:
A method of cleaning a contaminant from a substrate, comprising the steps of:contacting a substrate with a heterogeneous cleaning system, the heterogeneous cleaning system comprising CO2 in a first phase and a cleaner in a separate second phase, so that contaminant carried by said substrate is entrained in said cleaner; then solubilizing said cleaner in said first phase under pressure to produce a homogeneous cleaning system in which said contaminant is immiscible and said contaminant is separated from said substrate; and separating said substrate from said cleaning system before or after said solubilizing step; and separating said contaminant from said cleaning system; wherein said cleaner is an oil, and wherein said first phase is a continuous phase and said second phase is a disperse phase; and wherein said second phase further comprises a separate aqueous phase.