Industrial extraction unit using supercritical CO2

PRINCIPLE OF SUPERCRITICAL CO2 :

Any fluid can become supercritical depending on pressure and temperature conditions. In the supercritical field, the fluid has particular physico-chemical properties:
– high density (like liquids)
– low viscosity (like gases)
– near gas diffusion coefficient

This extraction skid is mainly composed of :

– a CO2 pump,
– an extractor with a basket,
– a separator,
– a utility network (compressed air, hot and cold water)
– a SCADA system.

CUSTOMER INFORMATION

P

Process type

Supercritical and subcritical CO2 extraction.

Business sector

Pharmaceutical industry.

Product characteristics

Vegetable raw material.
Extracted molecules for pharmaceutical use.

Constraints

Cleanability + CIP (cleaning system in place).
Machine must be transportable on truck.

Principle and operation

Supercritical CO2 extraction

It consists in circulating supercritical CO2, under pressure and temperature, through a material, then decompressing to recover the extract or contaminant. At depressurization, CO2 is released in gaseous form (reusable) and the desired compound in liquid or solid form.

CHARACTERISTICS

Dimensions

Height 5.4 m, length 5.2 m, width 4.2 m.

REGULATIONS

Pharmaceutical regulations (cGMP, FDA, GAMP5, 21CFR part 1). Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) / EC Regulation / ATEX Regulation.

PRESSURE & FLOW RATE

Max. operating conditions 350 bar / 80 °C.

TANKS VOLUME

A 290 L extractor / A 150 L separator.

CONTROLE

Complete inspection of the machine by a notified body / Qualification process according to pharmaceutical standards.