Supercritical fluid effect on the rates of elementary bimolecular reactions

The effect of the supercritical fluid (SCF) present in the reaction system on the rate of a bimolecular reaction has been investigated theoretically. Calculations have been carried out in the framework of the theory of nonideal reaction rates in condensed phases. The intermolecular interactions of the nearest neighbors are described in the quasi-chemical approximation taking into account the short-order correlation effects. The competing effects of raising the reaction temperature (which increases the reaction rate) and raising the pressure by increasing the amount of SCF (which hinders the meeting of the reactants) are discussed. Increasing the proportion of SCF reduces the self-diffusion coefficient and increases the viscosity of the reaction mixture.