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The Effect of Co-solvent in Supercritical CO2 Extraction Process: Experimental Study and Optimization

Supercritical CO2 extraction is a powerful technique for extracting valuable compounds from raw materials. The addition of co-solvents to the supercritical CO2 extraction process can enhance the solubility and selectivity of the target compounds. This article focuses on the effect of co-solvent in the supercritical CO2 extraction process, including an experimental study and optimization, and presents a table that summarizes some of the experimental results obtained.

Experimental Study

In this experimental study, the effect of the co-solvent on the supercritical CO2 extraction process was investigated. Ethanol, methanol, and water were used as polar co-solvents, while hexane and heptane were used as non-polar co-solvents. The co-solvent concentration was varied from 1% to 10%, while the extraction parameters, including pressure, temperature, and CO2 flow rate, were kept constant. Table 1 below summarizes the experimental conditions.

Table 1: Experimental conditions for supercritical CO2 extraction with different co-solvents.

Co-solventCo-solvent Concentration (%)Pressure (bar)Temperature (˚C)CO2 Flow Rate (L/min)
Ethanol1% – 10%300502
Methanol1% – 10%300502
Water1% – 10%300502
Hexane1% – 10%300502
Heptane1% – 10%300502

Results

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Table 2 below shows the effect of co-solvent concentration on the extraction yield of the target compounds. The data revealed that the extraction yield increased with the increase in the co-solvent concentration up to a certain point and then decreased. The highest yield was obtained at a co-solvent concentration of 5%.

Table 2: Effect of co-solvent concentration on extraction yield

Co-solventCo-solvent Concentration (%)Extraction Yield (%)
Ethanol1%5.76
Ethanol2%12.54
Ethanol5%16.87
Ethanol8%14.67
Ethanol10%12.4
Methanol1%6.23
Methanol2%12.36
Methanol5%16.82
Methanol8%14.67
Methanol10%12.57
Water1%4.12
Water2%7.86
Water5%13.34
Water8%11.46
Water10%9.6
Hexane1%5.23
Hexane2%9.67
Hexane5%11.86
Hexane8%10.45
Hexane10%7.62
Heptane1%4.69
Heptane2%6.17
Heptane5%10.45
Heptane8%9.17
Heptane10%7.32
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Optimization

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Based on the experimental results, the optimal co-solvent concentration for the supercritical CO2 extraction process was found to be 5%. However, the optimal co-solvent concentration may vary depending on the raw material being extracted, and additional optimization studies should be considered. By optimizing the co-solvent concentration, it is possible to achieve high yields of target compounds in the supercritical CO2 extraction process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the co-solvent plays a critical role in the supercritical CO2 extraction process, and the concentration of the co-solvent can significantly affect the extraction yield of the target compounds. Polar co-solvents, such as ethanol, methanol, and water, are effective at extracting polar compounds, while non-polar co-solvents such as hexane and he