Extraction and fractionation of fennel using supercritical fluid extraction assisted by cold pressing

Abstract

Supercritical fluid extraction assisted by pressing (SFEAP) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) were compared in terms of extraction kinetics and extract fractionation using fennel. Extraction was performed at a pressure of 200 bar, a temperature of 40 °C, and a solvent-to-feed ratio of 95, using torques of 0, 40, and 70 N m. The overall extraction yield increased by 24.5%, from 9.8 g extract/100 g fennel for SFE to 12.2 g extract/100 g fennel for SFEAP with a torque meter reading of 40 N m, while overall extraction yield increased by only 2.5% after increasing the torque from 40 N m to 70 N m. In the second part of this study, fennel oils extracted with SFE and SFEAP were successfully fractionated into fatty oil rich product and essential oil rich product using two serial, equal-sized separators.