Technology

Super critical CO2 extracts is the answer to the growing demand for pure and natural substances in the wellness, nutraceuticals and food industry. Supercritical Fluid Extracts (SCFE) is often used in highly selective extractions. Its non-toxicity and low critical temperature makes SCFE great for aroma recovery, colour boosting and pesticide removal. Known to be one of the gentlest extraction processes, supercritical fluid extraction has garnered a lot of attention due to its effectiveness in producing exceptionally pure and solvent free extracts.

            Advantages of the Process Using Super Critical CO2
            For extraction process; non toxic, odorless, tasteless, colorless, easily removable, grass solvent is used hence solvents leave no harmful residue.
No hydrolysis or destruction of temperature sensitive active ingredients.
Products obtained that is closest to the aroma and other properties of the original botanical material.
Longer shelf life for end product.
Dissolving power of the SCF is controlled by pressure and/or temperature.
SCF is easily recoverable from the extract due to its volatility.

        

No	Solvent Extraction	SCF Extraction
1	Solvent presence is unavoidable. The residual ppm level of the solvent depends on the type of solvent used.	Is totally free of solvents and hence very pure
2	Heavy metal content is also unavoidable and depends on the solvent, the recycle method for the solvent, the source of the raw material, and the material of construction of the contact parts of the machinery.	Totally free of heavy metals since they are not extractable even if they are present in the raw material. No heavy metals are present in CO2 and the equipment
3	Inorganic salt content cannot be avoided, using the same concept as above	Totally free of inorganic salts using the same explanation as above
4	Polar substances get dissolved along with the lipophilic substances from the raw material due to poor selectivity of the solvent. During solvent removal operation, these polar substances form polymers, which lead to dark color of extract and poor flow characteristics. All this renders the extract to look different from the basic components in the raw material and hence it is more of a "pseudo" natural extract.	No such possibility since there is very high selectivity of CO2 and no chance of polar substances forming polymers. In addition the operating temperature is only 40-50 degree Celsius.
5	Both polar as well as non polar colors are extracted	Only non polar colors get extracted
6	Solvent removal requires extra unit operations and hence the cost and recovery of useful material is lower	No extra unit operations needed and yield of useful material is very high

Solvent Extraction

SCF Extraction

Solvent presence is unavoidable. The residual ppm level of the solvent depends on the type of solvent used.

Is totally free of solvents and hence very pure

Heavy metal content is also unavoidable and depends on the solvent, the recycle method for the solvent, the source of the raw material, and the material of construction of the contact parts of the machinery.

Totally free of heavy metals since they are not extractable even if they are present in the raw material. No heavy metals are present in CO2 and the equipment

Inorganic salt content cannot be avoided, using the same concept as above

Totally free of inorganic salts using the same explanation as above

Polar substances get dissolved along with the lipophilic substances from the raw material due to poor selectivity of the solvent. During solvent removal operation, these polar substances form polymers, which lead to dark color of extract and poor flow characteristics. All this renders the extract to look different from the basic components in the raw material and hence it is more of a "pseudo" natural extract.

No such possibility since there is very high selectivity of CO2 and no chance of polar substances forming polymers. In addition the operating temperature is only 40-50 degree Celsius.

Both polar as well as non polar colors are extracted

Only non polar colors get extracted

Solvent removal requires extra unit operations and hence the cost and recovery of useful material is lower

No extra unit operations needed and yield of useful material is very high