Extraction of carotenoids with supercritical CO₂

Extraction of carotenoids with supercritical CO₂

N. Igl1 , J. Schulmeyr1 , Dr. M. Gehrig1 1 NATECO₂ GmbH & Co. KG, Auenstrasse 18-20, 85283 Wolnzach, Germany; tel.: +49 8442 660; fax: +49 8442 6666; e-mail: contact@nateco2.de; www.nateco2.de
Introduction: “We live in a world of mixtures – the air we breathe, the food we eat, the gasoline in our automobiles …:” [1]. Therefore raw materials as well as synthetic products have to be separated into desired and undesired components for further use. Since 1979 CO₂ as solvent for the separation of high-graded products at moderate conditions is used at NATECO₂. Most of the commercial CO₂– extraction-plants work at pressures lower than 300 bars. With ascending pressure the solubility for different substances is rising. Consequently also the extraction of carotinoids with CO₂ in an effective and economical way is possible through higher pressures. Carotenoids have many physiological functions. They are efficient free-radical scavengers and enhance the vertebrate immune system.

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