Future developments in analytical supercritical fluid technology: some ideas from recent research

The future development of analytical supercritical fluid technology will be guided by many factors including the research efforts of instrument manu­ facturers, industrialists and academics. In this final chapter we shall attempt to pose some questions where research seems to be lacking and summarise some of the current directions of research into supercritical fluids. This will hopefully seed some ideas for new research and highlight areas where this research will show application benefits. The areas can be grouped under three main sections: Theory and Understanding, Instru­ mentation, and Special Techniques. However, it will soon become apparent to the reader that the sections are complementary as any new special techniques require an understanding of theory and the necessary instrumentation to make them work.