Supercritical CO₂ extraction of grape seeds oil: scale‐up and economic analysis

Abstract

This work presents a scale-up and feasibility study for the establishment of supercritical CO 2 extraction plants to produce grape seeds oil. The scale-up factors are determined using experimental and modelling results based on seeds from six grape cultivars over 2 harvest years. The purchased cost of the production plant is estimated using 'the six-tenth rule' from the cost of a pilot scale unit. The results indicate that, at the current minimum retail selling price of extra virgin grape seeds oil, the proposed project is technically viable and economically feasible with a breakeven point of US$ 7.46 per kg-oil and rate of return on investment of 28%.

Effect of Experimental Parameters on the Extraction of Grape Seed Oil Obtained by Low Pressure and Supercritical Fluid Extraction

“…Although SFE is not the most efficient method for obtaining larger amounts of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of the samples, it is observed that this method provides greater selectivity to obtain p-coumaric acid and formononetin in grape seed oil samples. It is noteworthy that one of the main aspects that should be considered in the SFE is the choice of operating conditions in the extraction process [22,69], as this may provide an additional advantage to conventional methods such as for example clean technology and more selective methodology [69].…”

“…It is noteworthy that the quality and composition of the extracts and products obtained from plant samples are fundamentally related to the extraction technique employed [14,22]. Grape seed oil is most commonly extracted by the pressing process or through processes that use organic solvents (Bligh and Dyer or Soxhlet).…”

“…Cold extraction of oils is often associated with a lower final yield, while solvent extraction, despite the better yield, has as disadvantages a longer process time, presence of toxic residues in the final product and lower nutritional quality of the oil [22]. On the other hand, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has attracted considerable attention in recent years as a promising alternative to conventional extraction especially in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical industries due to the higher quality of the products obtained [17,23], and also because it is considered a clean technology (green process/ecofriendly) [18,22,24]. SFE has advantages over traditional techniques in that it allows the use of low environmental impact solvents, usually using supercritical carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) as solvent/extraction fluid, and is ideal for the extraction of thermally sensitive compounds, as low temperatures can be employed in the process.…”

Physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of oil extracted from Assam tea seeds (Camellia sinensisvar.assamica) by supercritical CO2extraction

“…Supercritical CO 2 extraction method, a new green technology for the extraction and separation of oil or bioactive compounds, has several advantages. For example, it has a high extraction efficiency, a lower operation temperature, a shorter extraction time and the use of lower amounts of extraction solvents compared with conventional extraction methods (Soxhlet extraction and maceration) (Conte et al, ; Duba & Fiori, , ; Freitas, Dariva, Jacques, & Caramão, ; Mustafa & Turner, ). The supercritical CO 2 extraction of tea seed oil has been investigated by several researchers to study the effects of parameters such as extraction pressure, extraction temperature, extraction time, and cosolvents on the yield and composition of the extracted oil (Rajaei et al, ; Xu, Zhong, Liu, Long, & Li, ; Zhou, Gu, & Gu, ).…”

“…(Duba & Fiori, 2015;Martinez, 2008). Based on previous studies, this supercritical CO 2 extraction method could decrease the degradation of bioactive compounds, leading to a final extracted product without toxic residuals (Benito-Román, Rodríguez-Perrino, Sanz, Melgosa, & Beltrán, 2018;da Silva et al, 2016;Duba & Fiori, 2019;Mariod, Matthaus, & Ismail, 2011).…”