Construction of a supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) equipment: validation using annatto and fennel and extract analysis by thin layer chromatography coupled to image

Abstract

The present work describes setting up a laboratory unit for supercritical fluid extraction. In addition to its construction, a survey of cost was done to compare the cost of the homemade unit with that of commercial units. The equipment was validated using an extraction of annatto seeds' oil, and the extraction and fractionation of fennel oil were used to validate the two separators; for both systems, the solvent was carbon dioxide. The chemical profiles of annatto and fennel extracts were assessed using thin layer chromatography; the images of the chromatographic plates were processed using the free ImageJ software. The cost survey showed that the homemade equipment has a very low cost (~US$ 16,000) compared to commercial equipment. The extraction curves of annatto were similar to those obtained in the literature (yield of 3.8% oil). The separators were validated, producing both a 2.5% fraction of fennel seed extract rich in essential oils and another extract fraction composed mainly of oleoresins. The ImageJ software proved to be a low-cost tool for obtaining an initial evaluation of the chemical profile of the extracts.

A comparative and economic study of the extraction of oil from Baru (Dipteryx alata) seeds by supercritical CO2 with and without mechanical pressing

“…The extractions were performed on equipment assembled and validated at LASEFI ( Johner and Meireles, 2016 ). In the extraction assays, 10 g of ground baru seeds was used.…”

“…The detection of volatile compounds was carried out by spraying the vanillin-sulfuric acid developer on the plate at the concentration described by Pirrung (2017) . The images of the revealed TLC plates were measured using ImageJ software, as described by Johner and Meireles (2016) .…”

Carotenoids as Natural Colorful Additives for the Food Industry

“…Supercritical fluid technology applies pressures and temperatures above the critical point of the extracting solvent, leading to a balanced state between liquid and gas phases. This balance confers low viscosity, high diffusivity, enhanced solubility and no surface tension, facilitating mass transfer [107]. However, this process involves a high cost, due to high temperatures and pressures requirements.…”

Microalgae Biomolecules: Extraction, Separation and Purification Methods

“…SFE combines extraction and separation by strictly controlling process parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow rate and processing time. Therefore, this selective capacity allows products with greater purity and yields to be obtained [115].…”