Phase equilibrium engineering and extraction efficiency of fixed oils with co2 + propane mixtures

P. HEGEL; M. ZABALOY; G. MABE; S. PEREDA; E.A. BRIGNOLE

Ischia, Italy

Conferencia; 8th Conference on Supercritical Fluids and Their Applications; 2006

The use of propane+carbon dioxide mixtures can offer special properties regarding solvent power, selectivity and safety. In the present work the phase equilibrium engineering for the extraction from grounded seeds of several fixed oils is studied. The selection of operating conditions is studied on the basis of a ternary diagram that limits the region of complete miscibility and of nonflammable mixtures. On the basis of the selected conditions, extraction studies of soy, sunflower oil and hiprose oil, from grounded seeds were carried out. The extraction studies covered a range of mixtures of propane+CO2 in the region of complete and partial miscibility with the oil. The decrease in rate of extraction with CO2 concentration were justified on the basis of the oil+solvent solution thermodynamic properties.