All You Need To Know About The Supercritical Fluid Extraction Process
One of the easiest ways of extracting the product from the raw material is through an extraction process. This process needs to be inexpensive, simple, and rapid. Also, it should be able to provide the best results by wasting the least amount of material.
The extraction process of supercritical fluid extraction is one of the finest ways of extracting the essence from flowers, spices, coffee beans, etc. Most of the environmental, food, pharmaceutical, and petroleum samples are extracted using this method. Supercritical fluids are the best in the field since they avoid different types of problems that might arise from an organic liquid extractant.
Ways how the supercritical fluid extraction process works
The supercritical fluid extraction process involves the supercritical fluid, a substance that is above the critical point of temperature and pressure. However, a slight change in either of these two factors can affect the density and other properties of the fluid.
The most commonly used products for extraction under this process are carbon dioxide and water. The CO2 extraction systems are used mostly for
extracting any sort of solvents under botanicals and do not leave a single toxic residue.
The process of extraction using supercritical fluid involves two different stepslow-pressure cold extraction and supercritical extraction.
Low-pressure cold extraction: This process involves chilling CO2 at 35550 F followed by pumping it through the plant material that is within the range of 800-1500 psi.
Supercritical extraction: Here, the CO2 is heated at a temperature that is above 870 F and pumped at a temperature that is above 1100 psi. Mostly this range falls between 6000-10000 psi. This process of supercritical fluid CO2 can be considered as a dense fog where the CO2 is a dense liquid.
Properties that affect the supercritical fluid extraction process
There are different properties of the supercritical fluid that affect the supercritical fluid extraction process. Let's take a look at them.
1. These fluids have compressed gasses that consist of a combined property of liquids and gases.
2. These can have reactions when mixed with lead or in other cases, conventional solvents.
3. The CO2 extraction systems use Carbon dioxide that is soluble in fluorinated compounds. Such a property is of great benefit, especially in the case of polymerization.
4. The extraction process consists of compounds that can lead to high concentrations of dissolved gases than the conventional solvents.
This article consists of the minute information that comes in handy while knowing about the supercritical fluid.