Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE):
A Sustainable Thermal Separation Process
Supercritical Fluids, namely compressed carbon dioxide, are alternative solvents with comparable solvent power as conventional organic substances. On the one hand they allow moderate extraction temperatures, on the other hand, their solvent power can be adapted to the solute by simple modification of the process pressure. Batch SFE applications result consequently in the production of solvent free extracts and thus added value for any kind of biomass which is rich in trigycerides(fats) and polyphenols. Continuous SFE applications are applied in the purification of liquids in petrorefinery, as well as in the raffination of bulk oils.
Useful tools for the experimental studies design and the upscale of SFE application are
- The check and modeling of the extraction yield curves (in the case of Batch SFE)
- Measuring high pressure phase equilibria and and applying short cut methods like Mc Cabe Thiele and Ponchon Savarit for continuous SFE, respectivel
Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE): A Sustainable Thermal Separation Process
TU Hamburg
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