Supercritical CO2 Property
ADVANTAGES USING CO2 in SUPERCRITICAL STATE
Characteristics of supercritical CO2 State
Benefits Derived by the Supercritical CO2 Specific Characteristics
Is odorless, non-toxic
Does not contaminate raw material or the environment
Is a gas in the atmosphere. Biological processes leave no trace or contamination
Allows utilization of waste products as raw materials or other byproducts
Critical temperature of the process is near to the room temperature
Ability to obtain extracts without thermic alteration
Retains its high permeability similar to a gas
The extraction time is shorter than that required by common solvent extraction
Changing conditions of pressure and temperature also can change the solvent properties
Efficient extraction and high product quality
Is inexpensive, does not burn, does not present the risks associated with the use of organic solvents
Easy to use and safe
CO2 industrial recycling is simple and thermodynamically neutral
Cost savings for energy and solvent
CO2 is taken from the atmosphere and returns to the atmosphere
CO2 extraction cycles applied to industrial process do not alter the environmental balance
Completely saturates the extraction chamber
Removal of the extract from the matrix is complete, occurs in a single industrial phase and it is not subject to very rapid heating as in other technologies. Optimization of processing times. Inhibition of oxidative processes.
The high pressure process generates differential pressure between the inside and the outside of the cells of bacteria and microorganisms
In many cases remarkable or total reduction of bacteria is obtained
High flexibility. Use in many different operating conditions in industrial processes
Use in extraction, fractionation, polymerization and micronization, pasteurization, purification, synthesis reactions, etc.
The molecule of CO2 is not polar
It has a remarkable facility to dissolve the fat fraction like vegetable oils and waxes
Can be used as a carrier for its permeability to matter
Associated with water as a solvent also can extract hydrophilic substances with remarkable efficiency (such as caffeine from coffee)