2026 Volume 26 Issue 2 Pages 55-60
Subcritical and supercritical water is a solvent that greatly expands the potential of water as a reaction solvent using high temperature and high pressure. A variety of reactions and reaction processes related to green chemistry can be realized by utilizing characteristics such as fast reactions, unique solvent properties, and tunability of solvent properties according to temperature and pressure. This paper describes the chemical reactions occurring in subcritical and supercritical water and how they relate to solvent properties. The paper also introduces applications in organic reactions such as organic synthesis, chemical conversion of biomass, and plastic degradation, as well as in the synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles. Furthermore, the paper discusses reaction processes that utilize changes in solvent properties.
