In this short paper we present data illustrating the use of a novel continuous scheme for the separation of a binary non-volatile organic solute mixture. The solutes to be separated are initially extracted into a supercritical solvent, and the resulting dilute ternary mixture is led into a high pressure vessel divided into two chambers by a porous barrier constructed with alumina particles supported in a porous steel container. Solvent flow rates can be independently adjusted on both sides of the barrier and the separation occurs through a process of adsorption and subsequent transport through the barrier. In principle this process will allow for continuous refinement of a solute by adsorption-diffusion through a series of porous barriers. In this study we present some initial selectivity data using a single barrier for a system consisting of the solutes 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene and naphthalene dissolved in supercritical carbon dioxide. This system was chosen because previous work from this group has investigated adsorption of these solutes at supercritical conditions and a thermodynamic model is available for interpreting the data given here. The data show that quite significant selectivities can be achieved in this system, especially in the solvents near-critical regime.
