Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) Systems

Supercritical Fluid Extraction employs a supercritical fluid, most commonly CO2, as the A mobile phase solvent for the extraction. The intrinsic low viscosity and high diffusivity of supercritical CO2 has rendered SFE a faster extraction and higher efficiency technique when compared to traditional liquid extraction. This provides faster flow rates and thus faster extraction times without the requirement for a higher pressure system. The addition of a co-solvent to the CO2 flow can help tune the strength further. The extraction oven can offer temperatures up to 100°C. Lastly after the extraction vessel is the back pressure regulator, which provides the back pressure requirement to keep the CO2 supercritical, and is an integral part of the performance of the extraction.