What is a supercritical extraction system?

Introduction to Supercritical Extraction Systems

Supercritical extraction systems utilize supercritical fluids to extract compounds from various materials. Supercritical fluids exist at conditions above their critical temperature and pressure, where they exhibit unique properties between those of a gas and a liquid. This property allows them to penetrate matrices like a gas and dissolve compounds like a liquid, making them highly effective solvents.

Principles of Supercritical Fluid Extraction

The principle behind supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is based on the use of supercritical fluids, most commonly carbon dioxide (CO2), as the extracting solvent. CO2's critical temperature and pressure are 31.1°C and 73.8 bar, respectively. When CO2 is used in its supercritical state, it demonstrates low viscosity and high diffusivity, allowing it to efficiently extract desired compounds such as caffeine, essential oils, or pharmaceuticals.

Key Parameters in Supercritical Extraction

Several key parameters influence the efficiency and specificity of supercritical extraction systems:

• Temperature: The temperature must be above the critical point of the fluid, affecting solvent power and selectivity. Superior temperature control is crucial for optimizing yield.
• Pressure: Pressure affects the solubility of compounds in the supercritical fluid. Higher pressures generally increase solubility, enhancing extraction efficiency.
• Flow Rate: The fluid flow rate impacts the time required for extraction and influences the saturation level of the fluid with the solute.
• Co-solvents: In some cases, co-solvents are added to modify the polarity of the supercritical fluid, enhancing the extraction of specific compounds.

Advantages of Supercritical Extraction

The supercritical extraction process offers multiple advantages over traditional extraction methods, such as solvents or steam distillation:

• Reduced use of organic solvents, making the process more environmentally friendly.
• The ability to finely tune extraction parameters to selectively target compounds, improving purity and yield.
• Lower temperatures preserve the integrity of heat-sensitive compounds, avoiding degradation.
• Faster processing times due to enhanced solute diffusivity and penetration capabilities.

Depamu Company Solutions

Depamu offers advanced and customizable supercritical extraction systems. Their solutions include various models equipped with precise temperature and pressure controls essential for optimal extraction. Depamu's systems are designed to accommodate different scales of operation, ranging from laboratory to industrial applications. The company emphasizes reliability and efficiency in their systems, ensuring consistent high-quality extraction results.

References

• Brunner, G. (2010). Supercritical fluids: technology and application to food processing. Journal of Food Engineering, 75(1), 1-16.
• Reverchon, E., & De Marco, I. (2006). Supercritical fluid extraction and fractionation of natural matter. The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 38(2), 146-166.
• Depamu Company Website. (Accessed 2023). Depamu Supercritical Systems. Available at: www.depamu.com/solutions