The gravimetric separator is the first separator (S1). It applies the gravimetric effect to separate the extract in fractions. This separator is heated at a set-point temperature. When the mixture of CO2 and chemical compounds extracted are directed in this separation, the solvent's temperature and … [Read more...] about Collecting Heavier Compounds with the Gravimetric Separator

Automation is a generic term, and all systems can be described as “automatic” in some way. We believe automation is more than just simple control over pressure, flow and temperature settings. Our Adaptive Automation process is a new hardware/software system that is able to change the extraction … [Read more...] about Hightech Extractors Employ Adaptive Automation

The Coriolis flow meter is basically a mass flow meter. It gives you exactly the mass of CO2 is delivered by the membrane pump, with at least three advantages if compared to traditional meters: It has no moving parts It works at full pressure at … [Read more...] about Measuring CO2 with the Coriolis Flow Meter

CO2 isn’t a liquid at normal room temperature and pressure. It is a gas. In this graph from The Engineering ToolBox, the equilibrium curve is the colored one between the triple point and the critical point. The Triple Point is the only point in which CO2 exists in a solid, liquid and gaseous phase … [Read more...] about Controlling CO2 Gas/Liquid Equilibrium

The cleaning procedure is an important practice: it is just as important as the extraction process. Any extraction system needs to be cleaned periodically: this period depends on many factors. The following issues all have an impact on the cleaning period: Type of the raw … [Read more...] about The Importance of Cleaning Your System

Traditional technologies in many cases do not offer a satisfactory solution to a specific problem. Furthermore, there is a continuous search to reduce production costs. Pilot scale studies may show that, despite initial high capital costs, operating costs would be lower and the overall feasibility … [Read more...] about Advantages of Supercritical Technology

We say that a liquid is in equilibrium with its gas when the same mass is exchanged from the gas to liquid and from liquid to gas. This happens continuously, and this point is strongly dependent on pressure and temperature. Any change in temperature produces a change in the pressure. When … [Read more...] about Controlling the CO2 Level

Supercritical carbon dioxide isn’t just an efficient solvent for apolar compounds. In fact, if it’s combined with fluid modifiers like water, it becomes a very efficient solvent for medium polar and polar substances (caffeine for coffee decaffeination). The extraction efficiency is better than … [Read more...] about Supercritical CO2’s Extraction Efficiency

The Supercritical CO2 extraction process is “geometrically variable.” A supercritical fluid is any compound at a temperature and pressure above its Critical Point. It can diffuse through solids like a gas, and it can dissolve materials like a liquid. For any pure compound, there is a transition … [Read more...] about Controlling Solubility of Supercritical CO2

After the extraction process, the mixture composed of CO2 and solutes leaves the extraction vessel(s) and it is directed to the separation vessels. By varying the pressure, flow and temperature of these vessels, it is possible to induce the selective precipitation of different chemical compounds as … [Read more...] about How Separation and Fractionation Works