Use of supercritical carbon dioxide in textile processes - Use in the decontamination of wool scouring effluents

The paper describes the concept of supercritical fluid and the main charact eristics and applications of Carbon Dioxide in supercritical state. Nowadays the main utilisation in textile process is a dyeing of polyester. Other use is the determination of residual grease content in textiles. The supercritical fluid extraction is an alternative to the solvent extraction. The removal of the maximum amounts of grease and pesticides contents in the mud from treatment plant of the residual water originated in the woolscour ing factories, must allow the utilisation of this sludge as a fertilizer in the agriculture. The extraction of pollutants must be made with Carbon Dioxide in Supercriti cal state. The aplication of this method has been developed in the european program Brite-Euram (Craft project), in which five research centers and ni ne european woolscourers, from Spain, Italy, Belgium; France and Portugal, have participated.