Abstract
Supercritical fluid extraction is an excellent separation technique which can avoid the heat denaturation of target materials and the residue of toxic organic solvent. It suits for the separation of food and pharmaceutical industries. Supercritical fluid has both large solvent power and high permeability and it can extract either a valuable or a toxic component from solid natural products selectively. Furthermore the concentration of a specific material is possible, when combining chromatographic separation or reflux operation.
The separation of soybean oil, bioactive oil produced from fungus and flavor ingredient was explained as an example of the extraction of valuable materials in natural products. The purification of highly unsaturated fatty acid such as γ-linolenic acid and EPA was discussed using supercritical fluid chromatography or supercritical fluid extraction with reflux as an example of the concentration of useful components.
