Steps and Processes Involved in Supercritical CO₂ Extraction: From Raw Material to High-Quality Extracts

Supercritical CO­₂ extraction is a highly efficient and versatile method for extracting various compounds from plant materials such as essential oils, flavors, fragrances, and other bioactive components. This supercritical fluid extraction process utilizes supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) as a solvent to extract desired compounds while maintaining their quality and preserving the integrity of the final product.

The supercritical state of carbon dioxide is achieved by raising its temperature and pressure above its critical point. At this point, carbon dioxide has the properties of both a gas and a liquid, making it an excellent solvent for a wide variety of compounds.

Supercritical CO2 extraction process has gained popularity due to its environmentally friendly nature, selective extraction, and potential for producing high-quality extracts.

Following is the operation sequence for the supercritical CO₂ extraction process:

• Preparing the Extraction System: Before the extraction process begins, the extraction equipment must be prepared. This typically involves cleaning and ensuring that all components are in proper working condition. The main components of a supercritical CO₂ extraction system are a high-pressure extraction vessel, a CO₂ supply system, a separator, and a collection vessel for the extracted material.

• Loading the Raw Material: The plant material containing the target compound is loaded into the extraction vessel. The material is usually finely ground or shredded to increase the surface area and facilitate efficient extraction. Proper loading of the raw material is crucial as it affects the overall extraction efficiency.

• Pressurization: In this step, CO₂ gas is pressurized to a supercritical state. Supercritical CO₂ exists at a temperature and pressure above its critical point (31.1°C and 73.9 bar).In the supercritical state, CO₂ possesses both liquid-like density and gas-like diffusivity, making it an excellent solvent for extracting various compounds.

• Extraction: The supercritical CO₂ is then passed into the extraction vessel containing the loaded and shredded plant material. The supercritical CO₂ acts as a solvent diffusing into the plant matrix and dissolving the target compounds. The solubility of different compounds in supercritical CO₂ varies based on factors such as pressure, temperature, and the chemical properties of the compound.

Selective extraction can be achieved by adjusting the pressure and temperature. Lowering the pressure can favor the extraction of volatile compounds while raising the pressure can improve the extraction of less volatile compounds.

Temperature also plays a crucial role in that higher temperaturesboost the extraction of less volatile compounds. Another way temperature is influential is that it improves the solubility of certain compounds but might lead to thermal degradation if not controlled properly.

• Separation: After extraction, the supercritical CO₂ containing the dissolved compounds is passed into a separator. Here, the pressure is reduced, causing the supercritical CO₂ to return to its gaseous state. As the CO₂becomes a gas, it separates from the extracted compounds which are now in liquid form due to the lower pressure. The extracted material is collected in a collection vessel, while the CO₂ gas is recycled back into the system for reuse in the CO₂ supercritical fluid extraction process.

• Post Processing: Once the extracted material is collected, it has to undergo further post-processing steps to obtain a pure form of the final product. This includesthe removalof multiple impurities, and concentrating the extracted components. As far as medical Cannabis extraction is concerned, the goal of post processing is to maximize the percentage of cannabidiol (CBD) in the final extract, eliminate or minimize THC content, and retain traces of flavanoids and terpenes.

Winterization is the first post processing operation. It eliminates lipids, fats, and waxes from the extract. Next comes decarboxylation which converts cannabidioloc acid (CBDA) and tertrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) respectively into CBD and THC.

Distillation comes thereafter, and uses the difference in boiling points of CBD, THC, terpenes, and flavonoids to separate them using heat. Chromatography is often employed as an alternative to distillation, and has the advantage of not using heat to separate the said compounds. This avoids thermal distortion.

• Quality Control: Throughout the supercritical CO₂ extraction process, it is important to monitor and control various parameters such as pressure, temperature, and flow rates. Quality control and analysis are essential to ensure that the extracted material meets the desired specifications, and is of high quality. Analytical techniques such as gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) can be used to quantify the concentration of target compounds and identify any impurities.

Advantages of CO2 Supercritical Fluid Extraction

• Environmental Considerations: One of the advantages of supercritical CO₂ extraction is its environmental friendliness compared to traditional solvent-based extraction methods. CO₂ is non-toxic, non-flammable, and readily available, making it a safer alternative. Additionally, the closed-loop system used in supercritical CO₂ extraction minimizes or even eliminates the release of CO₂ into the atmosphere. When recirculated, CO₂ cannot act as a greenhouse gas (GHG).

• Broad Applications: Supercritical CO2 extraction process has a wide range of applications across industries viz. food, pharmaceutical, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and the like. It is commonly utilized to extract bioactive compounds from plants for use in supplements and medicines. The process is also employed in the production of essential oils, herbal extracts, and botanical extracts for cosmetics.

Finally

Supercritical CO₂ extraction is a complex and efficient process that involves several crucial steps, from preparing the CO2 extraction equipment to obtaining the final extracted material. By utilizing supercritical CO₂ as a solvent, this method offers a safe environmentally friendly, and selective way to extract valuable compounds from plant materials while maintaining their quality and integrity. As technology and research continue to advance, CO₂ supercritical fluid extraction is likely to play an even greater role in various industries that rely on high-quality extracts and compounds.

ALSO, YOU CAN READ OUR NEW UPDATES

Check Out These Types of Cannabis Oil Extraction Equipment Before You Select Yours
What is the Significance of Cannabis Oil Extraction Equipment?
Here’s a Comprehensive Guide on Spice Oil Extraction that You Must Check Out
CO2 Extraction for Cosmetics: What is the Role of CO2 Extracts?
What Are The Methods Applied For The Process Of Essential Oil Extraction From Spices?
Medicinal Cannabis: What Are Its Benefits To Be Expected In Health Care?
How To Choose Cannabis Business Consulting Services? You Have To Keep These Pointers In Mind.
How To Choose CBD Oil Extraction Equipment? Here Are Tips You Should Follow.
What is Cryogenic Ethanol Extraction? What are the benefits of the process?
What are the mistakes to avoid while setting up a Cannabis Extraction Business?