Is there any specification regarding Supercritical Fluid Extraction of volatile oil for various plant part ? Especially for moisture level in raw material.
The water content acts on the selectivity of the extraction step; therfore better to check several %. Daniel Pioch
Lower moisture level in raw material, better extraction of volatile oil.However, careful must be take it to dry the plant material because of the lost of volatiles in oils. The problem is lower if material is to extract vegetable oil.
It’s depending of the plant material, but normally you can work with a residual moisture content from 8-12%, after dry. If you try to dry more you will lose the volatile compounds also... or at least some of them.
José, is it must to dry the plant part before SFE ??? or is it possible to use fresh plant part for SFE.???
All the extractions that I know have been done with dry plant (lower content in water 6-10%).
If you used fresh plant to SFE all the first litters of CO2( depending of the vessel of extraction can be 1 or 1000 L) will be to extract almost water. In that way you never know what is the approximately solubility of your volatiles in SFE and how much you can obtain in how much time.
Ok José.... I got it, now I shall follow similar method (raw material with lower moisture level).... Thank-you...!!
Your research in SUPERCRITICAL FLUID TECHNIQUE and VOLATILE OIL is really admirable....!!
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