Effects of Ethanol as an Entrainer in Preparation of Terpeneless oil by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction

Abstract

In the previous paper, we reported that using carbon dioxide alone as an extractant, limonene could be extracted with high selectivity only when the solubility in the supercritical fluid less than 1.1%. In this paper, the effects of ethanol as an entrainer were discussed for preperation of terpeneless oil. The experimental conditions were as follows: extraction pressure; 75-120atm, extraction temperature; 40-600°C, ratio of ethanol to carbon dioxide; 1.4-12%. The effects of the entrainer were more significant at lower extraction temperatures. The ektract rich in oxygen-containing terpenes by 1.7-2.3 times than the original sample was obtained under following conditions: extraction pressure; 100atm, extraction temperature; 40°C, ethanol ratio; 3.1%. Then, the solubility in the supercritical fluid was 6.6%.