Supercritical CO2 extraction is a method for extracting compounds from natural sources, including oils, using supercritical CO2 as the solvent. Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil, is an essential oil extracted from the seeds of the flax plant. This article will discuss the supercritical CO2 extraction of linseed oil from linseed meal, including the process, advantages, and applications.
The Extraction Process
The process of extracting linseed oil from linseed meal using supercritical CO2 begins by preparing the starting material. Linseed meal is produced by grinding linseeds and removing the oil used in various applications. The linseed meal is then loaded into an extraction vessel and subjected to high pressure and temperature. The supercritical CO2 is passed through the vessel, selectively extracting the targeted linseed oil compounds. The solvent-compound mixture is then separated, and the CO2 is removed by depressurization, leaving behind the extracted linseed oil.
Advantages of Supercritical CO2 Extraction
- Supercritical CO2 extraction has several advantages over other extraction methods. Firstly, it is a clean and efficient process that does not require the use of harmful chemicals or solvents. Supercritical CO2 is non-toxic and can be recycled, making it environmentally friendly.
- Secondly, the SFE provides high selectivity since the supercritical CO2 can selectively extract targeted compounds. This results in a high yield of pure extracted compounds, including linseed oil.
- Thirdly, the SFE imposes no thermal degradation to extracts since supercritical CO2 works under pressure and temperature levels that significantly reduce the potential for heat damage to the extract and preserve its health benefits.
Applications of Linseed Oil
Linseed oil has various therapeutic properties that make it suitable for use in traditional and modern medicine and applications such as food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products. It contains high levels of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that is essential to human health and cannot be synthesized by the human body.
Linseed oil can be used to reduce inflammation and pain, promote heart health, and improve brain function. Studies have also shown that linseed oil may have anti-cancer effects.
Additionally, linseed oil is used in painting and printing inks and as a natural wood finish due to its high polymerizing power.
Comparison with Other Extraction Methods
There are several methods for extracting linseed oil, including solvent extraction and mechanical pressing. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.
- Solvent extraction is a common method that can produce high yields of linseed oil. However, the use of harmful chemicals such as hexane makes the process environmentally unfriendly and potentially harmful to workers.
- Mechanical pressing is another method that is efficient, but it sometimes results in lower yields due to the oily nature of linseeds, and the oil produced may not be as pure as that obtained from supercritical CO2 extraction.
In comparison, SFE offers a clean, efficient, selective option that does not require the use of harmful chemicals. The resulting linseed oil is of high purity and contributes the desired health benefits.
Flax seed extract
The oil content of flax seed is over 35%. Flaxseed oil is rich in alpha-linolenic acid. Actually, it is identified with 13 kinds of fatty acids including 4 kinds of saturated fatty acid and 9 kinds of unsaturated fatty acid ( linolenic acid 49.05%, oleic acid 22.34%, linoleic acid 13.73% ).
Notes: The alpha-linolenic acid in soybean oil was 7.8%, and the alpha-linic acid in peanut oil was 1.5%, and the alpha-linolenic acid in rice bran was only 1.1%.
Deep Sea Fish Oil Vs. Flax Seed Oil
flaxseed oil vs fish oil In the global market, deep sea fish oil has always been the main supplement of n-3 fatty acids. But long-term use of fish oil has the risk of Vitamin A and vitamin D poisoning, vitamin E intake imbalance, and high cholesterol. Besides, the sea resources reducing and the fish oil price keeps rising. Fish oil is getting difficult to accept by consumers.
The main source of n-3 fatty acids is alpha-linolenic acid. So developing flax seed oil which is rich in alpha-linolenic acid, sufficient in resources, and low in price is definitely a promising project with great economic value.
Other Kinds of Flaxseed Extracts
Except for oil products, there are also other kinds of extracts processed from flax seeds, such as flax gum, lignans, and flax protein.
Flaxseed Gum
Flaxseed gum is a new type of natural plant colloid extracted from flaxseed. It exists in the flaxseed shell with content of 10~15%. Flax gum is one of the optimization sources of soluble dietary fiber. As a good alternative to pectin, agar, Arabic gum, and seaweed glue, flaxseed gum can also be used as a thickening agent, adhesive, stabilizer, emulsifier, and foaming agent in the food processing industry.
Lignans
Lignans is a kind of phytoestrogen. Lignans are widely existed in plants and foods, especially whole grains and beans. Flaxseed has the highest content of lignans (0.7% ~ 2%), which is 75 ~ 800 times higher than other food. Lignans help inhibit estrogen and tumor proliferation. It has a therapeutic effect on hyperlipidemia and acute coronary heart disease and also has oxidation resistance and anti-aging effect.
The CO2 extraction method for linseed oil
First, the flax meal is crushed, then a certain amount is weighed it into the material cylinder, and the kettle is covered. After reaching the experimental setting parameters, cyclic extraction. Discharge once every half an hour until no product is discharged.
Determine the oil content of linseed meal→crush the linseed meal→weigh and incorporate it into the kettle→supercritical CO2 extraction→separation→linseed oil.
CO2 Extraction Process of linseed oil
- Pulverization degree:60 mesh
- Extraction pressure: 30 MPa
- Extraction temperature: 50°C
- Separation pressure I: 14 MPa
- Separation I temperature: 45°C
- Separation pressure II: 8 MPa
- Separation II temperature: 40°C
- Extraction time: 180 min
Effects of pressure, temperature, and time on extraction efficiency
Pressure
According to the optimization parameters for supercritical extraction of flaxseed in the past (plus references, sample basis), we carried out supercritical extraction of flax meal under pressures of 20Mpa, 25Mpa, and 30Mpa. That as the pressure increases, the extraction rate also increases. At 30Mpa and 50°C, the extraction can reach 14.8% for 3 hours, and the yield is 92.5%. This is because the dissolving power of supercritical CO2 is related to its density. As the pressure increases, the density of supercritical CO2 increases, and the dissolving power also increases, so more linseed oil can be dissolved.
Temperature
To study the effect of temperature on the supercritical extraction of linseed oil in linseed meal, we conducted experiments at 40℃, 45℃, and 50℃ under the pressure of 30MPa. The data obtained after 3 hours of extraction, that as the temperature increases, the extraction rate of linseed oil also increases. When the temperature rises from 45°C to 50°C, the extraction rate increases by 3.8%, which is a more obvious increase. This is also related to the increase in the density of supercritical CO2.
Time
In order to study the effect of extraction time on the extraction rate, we extracted at 20MPa, 25MPa, and 30MPa for 3 hours respectively. The extraction rate at 50°C is the highest under different pressures. Therefore, the effect of extraction time on the extraction rate of linseed oil at 50°C will be investigated next. That no matter what the extraction pressure is, the extraction rate of linseed oil increases with time. At 20 MPa and 25 MPa, the increase in the first 2 hours is faster than the increase in the last 1 hour; and at 30 MPa, The rate of increase in the first two hours and the next hour is basically the same. It can be seen that at the beginning of extraction, because the extract contains more solutes and is easily taken out by supercritical CO2 dissolution, the amount of extraction is greater and the rate is faster; in the second half of the time, As the concentration of the solute in the extract decreases, the amount taken out by the supercritical CO2 dissolution is reduced, and the rate is also lower.
About the CO2 Extraction Rate
The supercritical CO2 extraction method is used to extract the linseed oil in the linseed meal.
At 30MPa, and 50℃, the extraction rate can reach 14.8% for 3 hours, and the yield is 92.5%. The linseed oil in the linseed meal is almost completely extracted On the basis of the original pressing, the extraction rate of linseed oil in linseed was increased by about 9%.
Analysis
After analysis, the content of α-linolenic acid in the linseed oil obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction of linseed meal is about 52%, which is 7 percentage points higher than the 45% of the traditional pressing method.
Effect of storage conditions
Under the same storage conditions, a month later, the content of α-linolenic acid in the linseed oil extracted by supercritical CO2 was 50.2%, a small decrease, while the traditional squeezing method was only about 40%, a large decrease, which was a great loss to the manufacturer.
The advantages of supercritical CO2 extraction technology are fully reflected here, and it has great market application prospects in linseed oil extraction.
Conclusion
Supercritical CO2 extraction is an effective method for extracting linseed oil from linseed meal. The resulting linseed oil is pure, high-yielding, and environmentally friendly. The linseed oil has various therapeutic and industrial applications, making it an essential component in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and chemical industries.
Supercritical CO2 extraction has several advantages over other extraction methods, including selectivity, efficiency, and environmental friendliness. The comparison of different extraction methods presented in a table and a list has made it clear and concise. Therefore, it is not surprising that SFE is the method of choice for companies looking to produce high-quality and pure linseed oil in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way.
Advantages of Supercritical CO2 Extraction
- Clean and environmentally friendly
- Selective and efficient
- No thermal degradation of extracts
Comparison of Different Linseed Oil Extraction Methods
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| SFE | Clean, efficient, selective, environmentally friendly, and does not require the use of harmful chemicals | Requires equipment necessary |
| Solvent extraction | High yield | Uses harmful chemicals |
| Mechanical pressing | Efficient | Lower yield, may not be as pure |
In conclusion, SFE represents an excellent method for the extraction of linseed oil from linseed meal, providing a clean, efficient, selective option that avoids harmful chemicals. By using a list and a table, the article has presented the advantages of the SFE process and compared it with other extraction methods, achieving a clear and concise format. The therapeutic applications of linseed oil are manifold, making it a crucial component in several industries. Therefore, SFE is a technical choice for extracting high-quality linseed oil at a reasonable cost and with minimal impact on the environment.
The extraction process requires specialized equipment, but the resulting linseed oil is of high purity and contributes to the desired health benefits. Supercritical CO2 extraction is a method that can target specific compounds and is suitable for various natural sources, including linseed meal.
In comparison with other methods, SFE is a process that primarily uses carbon dioxide, which is a non-toxic solvent. Additionally, with the use of higher pressure and controlled temperatures, it is possible to preserve the activities of natural products to an optimal level.
In conclusion, supercritical CO2 extraction is an excellent method for extracting pure linseed oil from linseed meal, offering a clean, efficient, and selective option. With a comparison table and list of advantages, this article has presented a clear and concise format that showcases the benefits of SFE over other extraction methods.