Your Guide To Supercritical Fluid CO₂ Extraction

This guide is designed to provide you with a comprehensive introduction to Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SCFE). We’ll explore how this advanced extraction method works, its unique advantages over traditional techniques, and the wide range of applications it supports. Whether you’re new to SCFE or looking to understand its potential for your business, this guide will help you grasp its benefits and the value it can bring to your operations.

What is Supercritical CO2 extraction?

Supercritical extraction is an advanced and efficient technology employed across various industries due to its unique advantages, such as high selectivity, low-temperature operation, and no solvent residue. This process involves using a supercritical fluid, specifically carbon dioxide (CO2), as a solvent. The supercritical state occurs when a substance, such as CO2, surpasses its critical point (31.1 °C and 73.8 bar). In this state, CO2 exhibits properties of both gas and liquid simultaneously, enhancing its effectiveness as a solvent. While various solvents such as methane, ethane, and propane can be employed in SFE, at NEOMA, we exclusively utilize CO2 as the preferred solvent.

Some of Supercritical CO2 extraction’s benefits include:

1- Highest Purity

Supercritical CO2 leaves no solvent residue, ensuring the final product is of the utmost quality and free from contaminants.

2- Maximum Efficiency

Supercritical CO2-extracted products are exceptionally efficient, thanks to their high purity, leading to superior results in various applications.

3- Low Temperature

The extraction process is operated at low temperatures, preserving the authentic aromas, tastes, and efficacy of valuable compounds like flavors, essential oils, and pharmaceutical compounds.

4- Environmental Friendliness

CO2 is non-toxic, non-flammable, and biodegradable, aligning with global environmental regulations.

5- Unmatched Selectivity

CO2 can be precisely adjusted to selectively extract specific compounds, offering supreme precision.

6- Eco-Friendly Recyclability

CO2 is easily recovered and reused in our closed-loop system, minimizing waste and reducing operational costs.

How SFE works

SFE starts by loading biomass into extractors with minimal prep. CO2 settings are adjusted via a PLC system. Pumped CO2 in high-pressure cells goes supercritical, efficiently extracting plant components. Optionally, a Co-Solvent tank, PLC-managed, can be used. Extracted components dissolve in supercritical CO2, selectively collecting in separators. Recovered CO2 is then recycled in a closed loop and used all over again.